Gender Dimensions of Pastoralists' Adaptation to Consequences of Climate Change: The Case of Amibara Woreda, Afar Regional State.
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Date
2011-07
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
This study was conducted in Amibara Woreda of the Afar Regional State. The study tried to
investigate the gender dimensions of vulnerability to consequences of climate change. Moreover,
adaptive capacity of women and men headed pastoral households which are required to take
appropriate adaptation measures and major factors that constrain the strategies of the respective
households are also identified. Both qualitative and quantitative data collection techniques were
employed to generate all the relevant data from various sources. Primary data were collected by
using household survey, key informant interview, focus group discussion and direct field observation.
Structured household survey was conducted on 90 women and men pastoral households (i.e. 50%for
each) selected by stratified random sampling technique from three representative kebeles. Secondary
data were collected from different published and unpublished materials; in addition 40 years rainfall
and temperature data from meteorology station were obtained. The data were analyzed by using
descriptive statistics like frequency, mean and percentage. Some variables were analyzed using t-test
to check statistically significant difference between the means of women and men headed households.
The findings of the study suggest that the changes in the climate are highly recognized by all the
respondents. Extensive reduction in rainfall amount, few rainy days, increased temperature and
increased frequency and severity of drought are the most widely observed changes. Unlike the
analysis of the rainfall data, the results of temperature data are in tandem with the observation of the
community. These observed changes have brought a lot of challenges on women and men headed
households. These includes: livestock population reduction and decline in productivity, livestock feed
shortage, deterioration of household food security, water shortage for livestock and human use, and
emergence and spread of new human and livestock diseases. Generally, women headed households
who have limited access to and control over important resources and services are found to be the
'invisible and the more vulnerable' segment of the community. Both women and men headed
households adopted various strategies in combination to cope with these challenges and reduce their
vulnerability. However, there are various factors that seriously constrain these strategies. As a
result most of the adaptation strategies of the households, more specifically women headed
households strategies are becoming a no option strategy. The study revealed that the existing biased
gender relation is the fundamental reason for women headed households limited adaptive capacity
and their disproportionate vulnerability to consequences of climate change. Finally, the study
recommends the need to enhance women headed households capacity for effective adapt ion by
devising gender responsive interventions. Moreover, it is important to strengthen the quality and
delivery of important services and on top of this, efforts should be made to ensure the participation of
women to make them benefited.
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Adaptation to Consequences of Climate Change