Participating under constraints: roles and limitations of rural women’s involvement in climate change adaptation planning and implementation in Ghana*

Abstract

ABSTRACT Climate change persists despite growing attention from a wide range of disciplines. In its 2018 report, the United Nations’ Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) called for an urgent global response from all segments of society to counter the impact of climate change. Rural women in developing countries whose livelihoods largely depend on nature are among the most impacted by climate change. Thus, there is no justification for marginalizing rural women or any group in the fight against climate change. But existing literature shows little scientific knowledge on women’s participation in climate change project planning and implementation. This study examined rural women’s involvement and roles in climate change-related projects and the potential barriers therein. The analysis of in-depth interviews with relevant government officials and women from farmers’ and fishers’ groups showed that women are involved in climate change projects. But women’s involvement is inadequate and constrained by multiple, interlinked sociocultural and other structural challenges. Recommendations for advancing participatory development communication practice beyond stakeholder engagement to focus on strategies for navigating the hindrances to women and other target groups’ participation are offered.