WOCAN has published a new policy brief titled “Climate-Smart Agriculture is ‘Smarter’ When Informed by a Gender Perspective”. It is authored by Dr. Lamia El-Fattel who is WOCAN Liaison Officer based in Washington DC.
The policy brief discusses that Climate-smart agriculture (CSA) is currently being hailed as a multi-sectoral approach to help meet global food security, while simultaneously reducing carbon emissions. But the brief emphasizes on questions such as What are the implications of such an approach to the livelihoods and well-being of small farmers who account for 60 percent of the global agriculture production; who provide food for a third of humanity, while belonging to the world’s poorest social segments? How will climate-smart agriculture affect women farmers and gender relations? What policies and activities can be enacted to ensure that women, as well as men, farmers benefit from such an approach?
The brief discusses how gender fits into CSA discussions by giving examples of TerrAfrica project which indicates that some CSA technology have had a positive effect on women farmers, while others have not. Thus it is imptant to analyse these technologies with gender prespective. The brief concludes with five concrete policy recommendations:
- Conduct gender analysis within all CSA projects, programs and policies to assess the implications and benefits of CSA technologies and practices on men and women.
- Identify women’s groups and provide them with training and support for leadership, negotiation and communication skills, as well as business skills.
- Support women’s participation in decision-making related to climate change, particularly at the local level.
- Provide training to both men and women on CSA technologies and practices, and gender awareness.
- Facilitate women’s access to land and credit through transforming laws and local practices.