Abstract
Highly erratic rainfall patterns in northern Benin complicate the ability of rural farmers to engage in subsistence agriculture. This research explores gender-specific responses to climate variability in the context of agrarian Benin through a household survey (n = 260) and an experimental gaming exercise among a subset of the survey respondents. Although men and women from the sample population are equally aware of climate variability and share similar coping strategies, their specific land-use strategies, preferences, and motivations are distinct. Over the long term, these differences would likely lead to dissimilar coping strategies and vulnerability to the effects of climate change. Examination of gender-specific land-use responses to climate change and anticipatory learning can enhance efforts to improve adaptability and resilience among rural subsistence farmers.
Highlights
This study explores gender-specific responses to climate variability and related coping strategies in the context of agrarian Benin
This study explores gender-specific responses with respect to land use and coping strategies under conditions of increasing rainfall variability in the Dassari watershed of Benin using a household survey and an experimental gaming exercise
The methods are used to explore anticipatory learning that could foster societal resilience to the effects of climate change. Both male and female farmers played the role of land manager under erratic rainfall conditions
Summary
This study explores gender-specific responses to climate variability and related coping strategies in the context of agrarian Benin. There is only a limited understanding of gender-differentiated impacts of climate change in West Africa (Babugura et al 2010), and an urgent need to integrate gender analyses into climate change adaptation responses and more broadly in scientific research (Carr and Thompson 2014; Schiebinger 2014). Gender-specific responses to climate change impacts have largely been ignored in the context of international debates and policy frameworks (Denton 2002; Omari 2010). According to the 4th Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC 2007), most climate change impact studies in West Africa fail to consider gender disparities, in respect to land use, management preferences, and related perspectives.
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