This presentation focuses on how policy and planning can be better informed by research on the gender dimensions of climate change adaptation.

1. How can policy be be.er informed
by gender research on climate
change adapta7on?
Una Murray, PhD
NUI Galway, Ireland 3D4AgDev, MSc CCAFS &
Independent Consultant
unamurray@gmail.com
hFp://nuaconsulIng.org/

2. Impacts of climate change will not affect
all people equally
Gender is a central organizing factor in socie7es,
& can significantly affect the processes of
produc7on, distribu7on & consump7on
Many gender-related challenges have been documented

3. Adapta7on to climate change is a
new burden for women smallholders
NUI Galway, Ireland 3D4AgDev
research
• Women smallholders limited or
no access to basic agricultural
tools, transport, & rural energy
• More serious a.en7on to gender
analysis needed to address
constraints in accessing basic
agricultural technologies
• Par7cipatory approaches to
develop & adapt CSA tools &
technologies to farmers needs
hFp://www.slideshare.net/cgiarclimate/
una-murray-lightning-talk-gender-gap

4. Q1. How can gender be beFer addressed in Climate
Change Adapta7on Research?
Q2. Linking gender research results on adaptaIon to
policy – How?

5. Q1. How can gender be beFer addressed in
climate change adapta7on research?
• Star7ng Point – draU research proposal
focus on climate change adapta7on
• Tries to stay within a par7cular budget
• Revision – trimmed to main biophysical
elements
Gender gets
leU out • Why?

6. Q1. How can climate change research be
more farmer driven?
• How much CC research is demand driven?
• Who commissions research?
• Is it for specific adaptaIon opIons?
• Dis-connect between what farmers
(disaggregated) want and what is being
promoted?
Research not
demand
driven?

7. Q1. How can climate change research
beFer incorporate gender?
Consider who is consulted
Are the right ques7ons asked to men/women?
Examine gender factors of produc7on
Male/female farmer linkages to intermediaries
Change the way ques7ons are asked
Forward-looking quesIons
Use exis7ng data
Make research
more farmer centred

8. • Communica7ng research results
• Researchers not facilitated to go beyond research
reports (many on outside track)
• Policy Briefs, Conferences, Social Media
• DifficulIes for policymakers to disInguish high quality
research evidence from a la carte findings/messages.
Q2. Linking gender research results on
adapta7on to planning? Challenges
Timing: crisis?

9. Q2. Timing: Gender research results on
adaptaIon when there is a policy window
PROBLEMS
SOLUTIONS /
PROPOSALS
POLITICS
(events)
Groups highligh7ng problem
Problem solvers
Poli7cal / voter
support for
solu7on
POLICY
WINDOW
Ime
Kingdon, 1983
POLICY
CHANGE
NEW / IMPROVED
POLICY
Long term view
/poliIcal mileage

10. • Many Actors
– From interest groups /govt agencies / private sector
– Opposing: views, values, percepIons of situaIon & policy
preferences
Q2. IntegraIng gender research results to
adapta7on planning & policy?
• $$ may be at stake
• Evidence presented
selecIvely
Transparency
regarding which
research used

11. Evidence / science
based
Interest / values
based
Confronta7on /
Outside track
Co-opera7on /
Inside track
Advising
Lobbying
Advocacy
Ac7vism
Start & Hovland, 2004
Q2. Linking gender research results on
adaptaIon to policy – different actors?
Civil servants, staff at ministry gender /
Agriculture, specialists, lawyers,
technical experts, consultants, donors..
Poli7cians, some business sectors,
Farmers orgs, environmental NGOs,
others?
Transna7onal NGOs, Equality /Rights groups
Direct Ac7on NGOs, Specific farming
groups, An7-globalisa7on
Business, Universi7es (women’s studies),
Scien7fic organisa7ons,
Consumer groups, Farmers groups..

12. ! Within government
! Outside government
! Government, interna7onal & civil society working together
" NGOs/CSOs/faith based organizaIons
" Think tanks, academics…media
" Broad coaliIons interested in the issue
" Coali7ons, alliances e.g. the Malawi CSA Alliance
" Ownership /validaIon of research
" Ministry which spearheads the issue
" Broad inter-ministerial group
" Technical working groups
Q2. Linking gender research results on
adaptaIon to policy – roles and plaaorms

13. • Ensure ‘Gender & Labour’ issues are in Plans
Na#onal Agriculture Investment Plan
• Simplify policy for ‘implementers’
• Strengthen extension providers to beFer
translate gender issues and reach female
farmers
Q2. Moving gender research results beyond
policy to policy implementa7on?

14. 1. How can we nurture a culture of
evidence on gender and adaptaIon
(avoid narraIves)?
2. Ensure we ask the appropriate
ques7ons? Male & female farmers?
3. Encourage communica7on of
results?
4. Use gender research results in other
conversa7ons on agriculture?