How resilient are farming households and communities to a changing climate in Africa? A gender-based perspective

In this paper we examine conditions that underlie vulnerability and resilience possibilities for households and communities that face and respond to climate- and other changes, in nine East and West African countries. We base our analysis on a unique integrated qualitative and quantitative dataset c...

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Main Authors: Pérez, Carlos, Jones, E.M., Kristjanson, Patricia M., Cramer, Laura K., Thornton, Philip K., Förch, Wiebke, Barahona, Carlos
Format: Journal Article
Language:Inglés
Published: Elsevier 2015
Subjects:
Online Access:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/67433
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author Pérez, Carlos
Jones, E.M.
Kristjanson, Patricia M.
Cramer, Laura K.
Thornton, Philip K.
Förch, Wiebke
Barahona, Carlos
author_browse Barahona, Carlos
Cramer, Laura K.
Förch, Wiebke
Jones, E.M.
Kristjanson, Patricia M.
Pérez, Carlos
Thornton, Philip K.
author_facet Pérez, Carlos
Jones, E.M.
Kristjanson, Patricia M.
Cramer, Laura K.
Thornton, Philip K.
Förch, Wiebke
Barahona, Carlos
author_sort Pérez, Carlos
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description In this paper we examine conditions that underlie vulnerability and resilience possibilities for households and communities that face and respond to climate- and other changes, in nine East and West African countries. We base our analysis on a unique integrated qualitative and quantitative dataset composed of household surveys and village focus group studies carried out across a wide range of environments and agricultural systems. We identify human population growth, commercialization of the economy, and natural resource use policies, in addition to weather, as key drivers of change. We compare the agricultural and livelihood systems of male and female respondents, as well as their productive resources, organization and access to services. Women have less access than men to common property resources, as well as to cash to obtain goods or services. Women control less land than men, the land they control is often of poorer quality, and their tenure is insecure. Women engage in mutual insurance and risk-sharing networks, and benefit from non-agricultural services provided by social support institutions external to the village. Formally registered, public and private external organizations that foster agriculture and livestock production have tremendous anti-women biases, and tend to provide support primarily to men. Policies and strategies are needed to eliminate those prejudices so that men and women increase their resilience and manage well their changing environments.
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publishDate 2015
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spelling CGSpace674332024-05-01T08:18:50Z How resilient are farming households and communities to a changing climate in Africa? A gender-based perspective Pérez, Carlos Jones, E.M. Kristjanson, Patricia M. Cramer, Laura K. Thornton, Philip K. Förch, Wiebke Barahona, Carlos gender In this paper we examine conditions that underlie vulnerability and resilience possibilities for households and communities that face and respond to climate- and other changes, in nine East and West African countries. We base our analysis on a unique integrated qualitative and quantitative dataset composed of household surveys and village focus group studies carried out across a wide range of environments and agricultural systems. We identify human population growth, commercialization of the economy, and natural resource use policies, in addition to weather, as key drivers of change. We compare the agricultural and livelihood systems of male and female respondents, as well as their productive resources, organization and access to services. Women have less access than men to common property resources, as well as to cash to obtain goods or services. Women control less land than men, the land they control is often of poorer quality, and their tenure is insecure. Women engage in mutual insurance and risk-sharing networks, and benefit from non-agricultural services provided by social support institutions external to the village. Formally registered, public and private external organizations that foster agriculture and livestock production have tremendous anti-women biases, and tend to provide support primarily to men. Policies and strategies are needed to eliminate those prejudices so that men and women increase their resilience and manage well their changing environments. 2015-09 2015-07-29T09:18:38Z 2015-07-29T09:18:38Z Journal Article https://hdl.handle.net/10568/67433 en Open Access Elsevier Perez C, Jones EM, Kristjanson P, Cramer L, Thornton PK, Förch W, Barahona C 2015. How resilient are farming households and communities to a changing climate in Africa? A gender-based perspective. Global Environmental Change. 34:95–107.
spellingShingle gender
Pérez, Carlos
Jones, E.M.
Kristjanson, Patricia M.
Cramer, Laura K.
Thornton, Philip K.
Förch, Wiebke
Barahona, Carlos
How resilient are farming households and communities to a changing climate in Africa? A gender-based perspective
title How resilient are farming households and communities to a changing climate in Africa? A gender-based perspective
title_full How resilient are farming households and communities to a changing climate in Africa? A gender-based perspective
title_fullStr How resilient are farming households and communities to a changing climate in Africa? A gender-based perspective
title_full_unstemmed How resilient are farming households and communities to a changing climate in Africa? A gender-based perspective
title_short How resilient are farming households and communities to a changing climate in Africa? A gender-based perspective
title_sort how resilient are farming households and communities to a changing climate in africa a gender based perspective
topic gender
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/67433
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