Participatory Gender-Sensitive Approaches for Addressing Key Climate Change-related Research Issues: Evidence from Bangladesh, Ghana, and Uganda

This 30-page working paper discusses findings and lessons learned from pilot projects which were designed to explore the different ways that men and women are affected by and adapt to climate change. As stated in the report, "getting a better understanding of how climate variability affects rural men and women differently, and in different regions, is challenging. Since their ability to respond to change and take action that will make them more resilient and able to adapt to a changing climate (alongside all the other social and economic change they are dealing with) differs, we need to focus more research efforts on enhancing this understanding and linking this knowledge with actions aimed at enhancing livelihoods and food security." The CGIAR Research Program on Climate Change, Agriculture, and Food Security (CCFAS), and the Unite Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) joined forces to explore, test, and refine a range of existing participatory research tools felt to be particularly useful for addressing several gender and climate change initial research priorities identified by CCAFS research leaders. This paper reports on the results and lessons learned from this pilot test in the villages of Chandipur in Bangladesh, Kyengeza in Uganda, and Doggoh in Ghana.

CCAFS research teams have developed an adaptation tool called 'climate analogues', an approach aimed at helping people visualise what their climate and environment is likely to look like in the future. The idea behind the analogue tool is to connect a particular location with places that have climates similar (analogous) to what climate scientists predict the climate will be like in 2030 and beyond in that location. The climate analogue approach can enable farmers to better visualise and understand what their agricultural future might look like and what kinds of changes and options they need to be considering now. The results of the pilot studies in three regions suggest that farmer-to-farmer visits to analogue sites will be more challenging and problematic for women than for men, and for the elderly. For men and women who are unable to travel, more innovative means of communicating the ideas behind climate analogues and what information can be gained from them could be explored, such as through mobile phones or films.

Data in the pilot research studies in the three sites was collected primarily through focus group discussions. Men, women and in some cases, youths, were part of separate discussion/focus groups. A total of 348 respondents across the three sites participated in the study. Some of the findings that were recorded in this research study are the following:

• Reasons for travelling: In Doggoh, Ghana, and Kyengeza, Uganda both men and women reported being interested in learning about agriculture from a nearby village, and travelling for that purpose. However, across all three sites, researchers found that the primary reasons that women travel outside their communities are to collect water, visit a doctor, trade, and accompany their children to school. In Bangladesh, the reasons why men travel and the reasons why women travel are very different. Men travel to look for employment, learn about agricultural techniques, and to socialise. Women travel to collect water, drop off their children to school, and to shop.
• Information sharing: In all three sites, information collected on agricultural practices from a neighbouring village by adult men and women is informally shared with family members. In the Ugandan case, however, the male youth group reported sharing more information and actively seeking to learn about agricultural practices from other places compared to the group of older men who were more hesitant to share information and travel. Sharing of information was linked to changes in practices, according to study participants. For instance, women in Ghana stated that from visits they learned about and then adopted practices such as composting and forming social groups to boost their social networks and economic activity. The men in Ghana have started to plant more trees after visiting another village. In the case of Uganda, women have established clonal coffee nurseries and men have adopted mulching. Women also face more travel barriers compared to men. Not only is distance to a neighbouring village a factor, but cultural barriers, such as not being able to ride a bicycle in Kyengeza, Uganda or go outside as an unmarried girl in Chandipur, Bangladesh, restricts travelling.
• Key gender implications for sharing and using climate analogue information: The case studies suggest that farmer-to-farmer visits will be more challenging and problematic for women than for men, and for the elderly compared to younger people. For men and women who are unable to travel, more innovative means of communicating the ideas behind climate analogues and what information can be gained from them need to be considerd. Exchange of some types of information may be possible through mobile phones, but which types of information can be effectively communicated and used, how information should be communicated, and by whom, still needs to be researched further. Another possibility that could to be explored is the use of films which may be a more powerful communication medium since farmers will be able to visually understand different strategies their analogue neighbours use. The pilot study findings also suggest that information on climate change adaptation strategies could be provided in certain central locations that are already commonly visited by both men and women, such as in market places, hospitals, schools, and water collection points.

Farmers everywhere are very aware of the weather, watching it and the environment around them closely, and using their experience to adapt their agricultural practices accordingly. Differential access to this information could play a role in their ability to adapt to the increasing variability in weather conditions already occurring in many places. Therefore, it is important to document and address any gender- or age-based differences in access to and use of weather information, as well as to understand different information need. Gender and age-disaggregated focus group discussions and seasonal calendars were used to explore these issues, which pointed to the following:

• Channels for forecasts: Before testing the relevance of formal daily and seasonal forecasts to the lives of different groups of farmers, it was important to first discuss weather information without the use of formal forecasts generated by meteorological offices. In many cases, researchers found weather information is based largely upon informal indigenous knowledge (IK), for both men and women. When the formal forecasts were presented and discussed, many group participants struggled to understand them. In many cases, farmers were not familiar with the various symbols depicting weather conditions such as rainfall or sunshine, for example. Many do not have access to television or newspapers where they would see such visual symbols and become familiar with them. Thus communication challenges loom large if improved weather information is to reach, be perceived as useful, and used by both men and women farmers. Indigenous knowledge (IK) is relied upon heavily by both men and women, as well as by young people, although boys in Chandipur, Bangladesh and Kyengeza, Uganda did not mention it. Reliance on radios is widespread. Newspapers were mentioned by boys in Chandipur, and cell phones were cited by boys and girls in Kyengeza.
• Daily weather forecasts: In Chandipur, Bangladesh, women and girls make use of the daily weather forecast information they receive on the radio or hear from their friends primarily to determine when it is possible to collect water, especially during the monsoon when the rains make it more difficult to do so. They also rely on indigenous knowledge. In Doggoh, Ghana, IK plays an important role, and radios are a key source of weather information. Women primarily rely on IK, but also get weather information when discussing farming activities with their husbands, since most women do not own radios. Both male and female youths in Doggoh receive weather-related information on the radio, but they too also rely on IK. They, however, have more trust in forecasts heard on the radio than do the adults. In the case of Kyengeza, Uganda, everyone has access to daily weather forecasts, but not everyone makes use of them. Apparently only around 20% of men actually use daily weather forecasts to help them decide whether to cultivate or not, since many find such forecasts not location-specific enough. Eighty percent of men listen to weather forecasts on the radio. Both men and women reported finding the forecasts unreliable, however. Eighty percent of women said they rely primarily on IK for indications of what is likely to happen with the weather. Young women in Kyengeza also rely on the radio and cell phone for information in general. Although they say that the weather information received through the SMS format is too general to be very useful to them, they feel it is from a "trusted source" since it is coming from the "Prime Minister's Office".
• Seasonal weather forecast: Most seasonal weather forecasts developed by national meteorological departments include forecast information beyond seasonal rainfall totals, such as the start and duration of the rainfall season, rainfall frequency or distribution, and temperature. Researchers found that few farmers across the three sites included in the pilot study are yet to receive such formal seasonal weather forecasts, with the exception of Chandipur, Bangladesh, where the men's group said that they are receiving seasonal forecasts via the radio as well as television, and these forecasts are useful to both farmers and fishermen. No-one in Doggoh, Ghana had ever come across formal seasonal forecasts. When asked if and how they might use such information, however, all groups felt that it would be helpful for them, particularly for deciding when to plant. Radio was the preferred way of getting this information for all the groups.
• Type of information requested and effective communication channels: One of the aims of the pilot studies was to inform the design of inclusive targeting of climate information products and services for rural communities. In Doggoh, Ghana, the type of information that both men and women are interested in is advice on when to plan farming activities and protect property. In Doggoh, men and women prefer to receive information through public announcements at church, through extension agents, and/or village assemblymen. Interestingly, the youth in Doggoh would also like to get information on how to interpret weather information. In the case of Kyengeza, men, women, and the youth would like information and advice on when to plan farming activities, especially for post-harvest time period. Information on when to travel for water and fuelwood collection is also important. The channels of information, however, differ between men and male youth, and women and female youth. Men and male youth prefer the radio, whereas women and female youth prefer many more mediums.

According to the brief, farmers are already involved in many climate smart agriculture practices aimed at enhancing resilience and improving land productivity. The major driving factors cited were a desire to improve soil conditions and diversify their income sources. Men and women both contribute to improving productivity, but labour is differentiated by gender in most cases, so the labour demands of the various practices/options needs to be taken into consideration for new practices to be adopted and for women as well as men to benefit from them. In terms of catalysing CSA practices, non-governmental organisations and government extension agents play a key role in providing agricultural information and advice to both men and women. Thus strengthening their capacities and knowledge base regarding appropriate adaptation and mitigation strategies in different circumstances will be key for enhancing adoption of CSA practices.