The gender dynamics of climate change on rural women’s agro-based livelihoods and food security in rural Zimbabwe: implications for green social work

Abstract

The impact of climate change is not gender-neutral. In this article, we argue that its impact on rural women’s agro-based livelihoods and food security in Zimbabwe is underlined by unbalanced social and power relations and structural factors such as unequal access to the means of production. To that end, we involve green social work as a better positioned framework and practice to address the gendered implications of climate change surrounding rural women’s livelihoods and food security in Zimbabwe. Its significance relates to its holistic nature, which can enable social workers to tackle various multidimensional issues that underlie environmental crises, such as gender inequality and poverty. Additionally, green social work has a crucial focus on policy formulation, political engagement, the protection of the environment and strengthening the resilience and coping strategies of communities.