The Gender-differentiated Impacts of Climate Change on Rural Livelihoods Labour Requirements in Southern Zimbabwe

Abstract

This paper examines the gender-differentiated impacts of climate change on rural livelihoods labour requirements. It explores how climate change is impacting the work of men and women differently in exercising their livelihoods gender allocated portfolios in a rural set-up. The paper interrogates men and women’s experiences of climate change impacts in Tohwe village, Zimbabwe. Data was collected using a mixed methods approach involving a household survey, focus group discussions with community members and in-depth interviews with community leaders and key stakeholders. Using an adapted version of the Harvard Analytical Framework, the study investigates how livelihoods related household labour requirements are shifting as a result of climate change. The study finds that while climate change affects both men and women, it disproportionately affects the amount of work women have to do. The study recommends ways to foreground gender mainstreaming in order to address emerging gender related challenges emanating from climate change.