Gender and Adaptive Capacity to Climate Change in Rural Uganda

Abstract

Rural women in Uganda are disproportionately affected by climate change impacts, particularly drought. This study highlights how improving women’s access to financial services, secure land rights, and climate-smart farming can strengthen their ability to adapt to drought. The research aims to drive impactful change that supports sustainable livelihoods and climate resilience for rural women farmers.

A qualitative approach was used, utilizing secondary data from scholarly literature, policy documents, and insights from focus group discussions and key informant interviews conducted in Mityana District, Uganda. Thematic analysis was applied to identify recurring themes related to women's access to financial services, land, and climate-smart agricultural practices.

The study reveals that rural women in Uganda struggle to adapt to climate change due to limited access to financial services, insecure land tenure, and inadequate adoption of climate-smart agricultural practices. Cultural norms and discriminatory practices increase these barriers, highlighting the need for gender-responsive policies to empower women and enhance their resilience. Addressing these issues is crucial for improving women's adaptive capacity to climate impacts like drought.

Implementing gender-responsive policies that improve women’s access to financial resources, secure land tenure, and promote climate-smart agricultural practices is crucial. Thus, empowering rural women in these areas will enhance their resilience against climate challenges.