This training guide was prepared by Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) to fill that gap by supporting work to investigate the gender dimensions of responding to climate change in the agriculture and food security sectors. The final goals are to improve food production, livelihood security and gender equality in the context of the changing climate.
The purpose of this guide is to promote gender-responsive and socially-sensitive climate change research and development in the agriculture and food security sectors through participatory approaches. The guide focuses on the household and community level. It provides users with resources and tools for collecting, analysing and sharing gender-sensitive information about agricultural communities, households and individual household members who are facing climatic changes.
Objectives
The objectives of the guide are:
- To sensitize users to the links between socio-economic and gender issues in the context of climate change in the agriculture and food security sectors;
- To develop the capacity of users to utilize Participatory Action Research (PAR) tools in gathering socio-economic and gender-sensitive information for climate change research and development;
- To help users understand how to analyse field research outputs in a field research setting;
- To apply knowledge gained beyond research to promote gender-sensitive adaptation and mitigation activities in agriculture.
The guide is intended for agricultural development professionals who are using field-based research in their work with households and communities to respond to the impacts of climate change, prepare for future climate risks and impacts of climate change or modify agricultural practices to reduce contributions to climate change. It is anticipated that users of this guide have a prior knowledge of agriculture and development issues and some experience with PRA, but limited experience incorporating gender issues in the context of climate change into their work.
Major Topics
- First attention is given to the linkages between economic, environmental, social and institutional patterns that affect individuals in the agricultural sector within the context of climate change. Both opportunities and constraints for agriculture and food and livelihood security development are identified.
- Second, understanding gender, wealth, ethnicity, caste and other social differences in communities and households is considered fundamental to understanding livelihood strategies and priorities of different socio-economic groups. Special efforts are made so that the poor and marginalized groups are ensured a voice in the process of responding to and preparing for climate change.
- Third, this guide provides tools specifically designed to support a gender-sensitive participatory process that focuses first on an analysis of the current situation, and second, on planning for the future.
You can download this free training guide from here.
