Assessment of adaptation to climate change through a gender lens in Namayingo district, eastern Uganda.

Abstract

This study investigated adaptation to climate change through gendered Lens in Namayingo District. Four specific objectives guided the study; the gender roles in climate change adaptation, effect of climate change on various gender groups, approaches considered in climate change adaptation, the extent to which gender roles have been adopted by stakeholders towards climate change adaptation and recommendations on issues that require balanced gender in climate change adaptation. A cross sectional survey was used on 242 respondents and the primary data collection tool was a questionnaire. Results were analysed both descriptively and quantitatively. The distribution of gender in climate change adaptation (CCA) activities was not even during evaluation activities, campaigns towards use of plastic bags, advocacy for recycling programs, among other issues. The three main strategies used in climate change adaptation is; investing in capacity building for vulnerable population coupled with enhancing knowledge and understanding of policies and politics of climate change, control of black smoke and encouraging tree planting/reforestation efforts. Climate change was found to have significant effects mostly on the female gender given the fact that they do most of the work such as cultivation, firewood collection, fetching water, among others, which necessitate environment. Negative climate changes cause floods, droughts, storms which destroy harvests and loss of trees in compound and garden, which affect more female gender than the males. Gender role was recommended mostly during monitoring and evaluation. Monitoring provided for gender role in terms of enabling both genders have access to fertilizers, and planting materials, while evaluation was ensured through; gender-disaggregated data used to conduct gender analysis, gender impact on programs, and keeping in touch with gender focal points, as well as increasing gender learning opportunities.