ASSESSING THE IMPACTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE ON WOMEN IN NAMASAGALI
SUBCOUNTY, KAMULI DISTRICT
CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION
Background of the study
Globally the increasing impacts of climate change continue to be seen in rising sea temperature,
flooding, and fluctuation in weather patterns. Recently the phenomenon has become a reality for
poor communities whose livelihoods are being washed away by floods and children whose
education is being truncated by the economic impacts of climate change. Therefore this research
aims to assess the impacts of climate change on women who are said to be more vulnerable to
the culminating effects of human induced climate change disasters. To achieve the main aim and
objectives of this research study, the research was conducted phenomenological using
questionnaires, interviews, and focus group discussions to access the tools required for
improving the livelihood of the women affected by climate change.
Problem statement
Objectives of the study
Main objective
To assess the impacts of climate change on women
Specific objectives
To find out the key factors that makes women vulnerable to climate change
To determine the effects of climate change on the incomes of women
To find out the…
Research questions
What are the key factors that make women more vulnerable to climate change
What are the effects of climate change on the income levels of women
What are…
Conceptual framework
Significance of the study
This study will provide the resilience methods to combat the continuing climate change impact
on women
The study will show the different factors that make women more vulnerable to climate change
The research study will be a great reference tool for the key stakeholders to bring about a
collective effort to implement the proactive measures required to improve women’s resilience to
the impact of climate change on their livelihood.
Scope of the study
CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW
Gendered impacts of climate change
Vulnerability to the impacts of climate change depends on a number of factors including gender,
age, socioeconomic status, caste and disability. Poor individuals, those with disabilities and those
belonging to particular caste groups are more vulnerable to climate change impacts as their
coping strategies may be limited both by social norms and stigma, but also due to issues of
mobility, knowledge and lack of money.
It is generally acknowledged that women and girls face a heavier burden of domestic work as a
result of resource shortages (food, water and firewood) caused by climate change. They are made
to walk longer distances to fetch these resources and may as a result face increased security
issues including harassment and sexual violence. Increasing workloads may also result in
families withdrawing daughters from schools to help out at home, reducing their future
opportunities. Boys may also be taken out of school and sent to earn money to help the family
deal with poverty resulting from climate change impacts.
In addition, crop failure as a result of sporadic rainfall may result in the selective
malnourishment or starvation of girls and women, especially in cultures where men are used to
eating before women and girls. Selective malnourishment of ‘less important’ members of the
family can also be used as a strategy to ensure the family’s survival. Women also often face the
most negative economic implications of crop failure as they usually have fewer economic
resources to fall back on in times of crisis. This also has implications for the health of many
women and girls, as malnourishment increases the risk of contracting infections. Further, women
and girls’ lower socioeconomic status make it more difficult for them to access and pay for
treatment.
The different experiences of men and women regarding climate change have led one analyst to
argue that ‘gender transformation is both an important condition and a potential end goal of
effective climate change responses and poverty reduction’ (Skinner 2011:13).
CHAPTER THREE: MATERIALS AND METHODS
