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Gender and Social Vulnerability to Climate Change: A Study of Disaster Prone Areas in Sindh

Gender and Social Vulnerability to Climate Change: A Study of Disaster Prone Areas in Sindh. Dr. Khalida Ghaus & Nadeem Ahmed Managing Director Social Policy and Development Centre, Pakistan CCW, Kathmandu June 20, 2013. Overview. The study aims to:

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Gender and Social Vulnerability to Climate Change: A Study of Disaster Prone Areas in Sindh

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  1. Gender and Social Vulnerabilityto Climate Change: A Study of Disaster Prone Areas in Sindh Dr. Khalida Ghaus & Nadeem Ahmed Managing Director Social Policy and Development Centre, Pakistan CCW, Kathmandu June 20, 2013

  2. Overview The study aims to: • investigategenderdimensionsofsocialvulnerabilitytoclimatechange • assess the adaptive capacity of men and women at community level and the social capital available to them • formulate a set of gender specific policy recommendations for provincial and district governments • build awareness and understanding among stakeholders

  3. Theoretical framework • Vulnerability:susceptibility to suffer damage from an environmental extreme and relative inability to recover from that damage [Mustafa, Ahmed and Saroch (2008)] • chronic state of being rather than an outcome of environmental extreme • can be explained by a combination of socio-economic, political and environmental factors [Adger (1999); Brook, Adger & Kelly (2005)] • gender as cross-cutting factor

  4. Theoretical framework Environmental Factors (Exposure to hazards) Socio-economic Factors (Income, assets, education, empowerment, etc) Institutional Factors (social capital, role of civil society, role of government, etc.) Social Vulnerability Adaptive Capacity Gender Dimensions Gender Inequalities menifested in the social roles and access to resources, determined by legal and cultural norms, institutions, power and decision making in households and communities.

  5. Methods • Mix of qualitative and quantitative techniques • Analysis of secondary data • Multi-group dialogues • Household and community survey • Focus group discussions (male, female) • Key informant interviews • Vulnerability and Capacities Index

  6. Methods Vulnerability and Capacities Index: • A tool for assessing relative vulnerability of selected communities • Material • Institutional • Attitudinal

  7. Results • Primary survey has recently started • A preliminary set of discussions with groups of farmer (men and women) and multi-group dialogues with stakeholders were held • Some impressions from meetings and focus group discussions are shared here • Caution: these are preliminary observations

  8. Results • People have observed significant variation in climate over the years -- increase in rain as well as extreme temperatures during the summer and winter seasons (Secondary data also indicates increasing trend in average temperatures) • Impact of climate change/variability: • People generally do not differentiate the impacts of climate change and that of environmental degradation due to disasters • Some do feel that rising temperatures are also responsible for making the ground dry and decreasing the soil’s water retention rate

  9. Results • There have been changes in sources of income over the past few years due to climate variability and disasters • continuous decline in the availability of fresh water led to a decrease in harvesting of various crops • fish ponds have been destroyed as a direct consequence of frequent floods; also impacted livestock raring • switch over to ‘non-farm’ related labour work --- decline in overall income, increased uncertainty

  10. Results • Difference in experiences and impacts of climate change on men and women • women now have to bring water over long distances • During and after floods, the vulnerability of women further increases due to increase in diseases, lack of access to proper sanitation or health facilities and loss of livelihoods • lower literacy level amongst women as compared to men was also identified as one of the factors increasing gender differentiated impacts

  11. Results • Access to social capital • NGOs helped the communities to cope with the disasters. These interactions have resulted in an increase in social cohesion and social networks • increased focus on education of children in general due to the loss of farming as a livelihood

  12. Results • Institutional responses and people’s access to government resources • The farmers, in general, are not very positive about the role of governments to deal with the impact of climate variability and disasters • the district and provincial governments lack detailed mapping and skills that are important for rescue efforts • accountability mechanisms are also poor • The general impression is that the resources were used inappropriately by the government without proper coordination and planning

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