Gender Dimension of Adaptation to Climate Change as Linked to Water-Energy-Food Nexus in Mecha Area, Northwest Ethiopia
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Date
2020-04
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
Ethiopia is suffering from climate extremes in the form of frequent flood and drought. Men
and women experienced the impact of climate change differently, specifically in poor
countries like Ethiopia. The link between the adverse effects of climate change and gender
inequality is inextricable. Gender inequality aggravates vulnerability to climate change and
decreases adaptive capacity because of poor access to vital resources including water,
energy and food. This problem calls a need to investigate the gender dimension of
vulnerability and adaptation to climate change as linked to water-energy-food nexus. The
objectives of the study are to analyze spatiotemporal climate variability to assess gender
dimension of households’ vulnerability and adaptation to climate change and determinant
factors to adopt adaptation technologies, and to explore gender dimension of climate change
effects as linked to water-energy-food nexus in Mecha area, North-western Ethiopia. Using a
household survey, quantitative data were collected from 416 randomly selected respondents
and qualitative data were collected via in-depth and key informant interviews and focus
group discussions. The research used inverse distance weighted interpolation
tool, multinomial logit model and qualitative system dynamic approach: causal loop diagram
to analyze the data. The research used statistical techniques such as means, frequencies,
standard deviations, principal component analysis, t-test and one way between groups
ANOVA. Findings reveal that warming trends of annual minimum and maximum temperature
increased at a rate of 0.11 0
C and 0.08 0
C per decade, respectively. The mean annual and
seasonal rainfall distribution shows statistically non-significant increasing trends. The
results reveal that the vulnerability level of female-headed households is higher than maleheaded households in the irrigation area. The findings further reveal that female-headed
household’ vulnerability level without irrigation was less than female-headed households
with irrigation. Vulnerability level of male-headed households in the upper stream was more
than male-headed households in the lower stream. Findings also showed that male and
female farmers are different in undertaking adaptation options: more male farmers undertake
adaptation options than female farmers. Further, findings reveal household heads’ age,
farming experience, land size and access to extension services have a significant effect for
male-headed households wherea use of credit services and climate information have
positively associated with female-headed households’ selection of adaptation options. The
last findings show that labour restriction, limited control over land and low income are
major drivers that determined female-headed households’ less access to water, energy and
food. Climate-induced problems perpetuate female-headed households’ limited access to
productive resources. The results imply a need to introduce development strategies with a
focus on female household heads for capacity building in different dimensions. Findings also
suggest the need to gender-inclusive climate change policies with a wide range of
institutional and technological support, particularly for the poorer and female household
heads
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Keywords
gender; household head; spatiotemporal variability; vulnerability; adaptation options; water-energy-food nexus