Gender Involvement in Climate Change Adaptation Projects in Nigeria

By Lucy Tembe

The term gender refers to the social construction of male and female identity which involves more than biological differences between men and women. It includes the ways in which those differences, whether real or perceived, valued, used and relied upon to classify women and men and to assign roles and expectations to them.

The consideration of gender in the successful implementation of climate change adaptation projects is imperative in improving the livelihood of rural community members. Since climate change impacts became rampant in Nigeria, both the male and the female members in the communities have suffered afflictions in one way or the order due to drought, flooding, famine, water scarcity, extreme weather conditions, sea level rise and conflicts due to competition for scarce resources.

While climate change mitigation is being contemplated at the highest bilateral and multi-lateral levels, climate change adaptation practices are needed to cushion the effects of climate change in rural communities for enhanced livelihood and environmental sustainability. This involves integrating gender perspectives into climate change policy-making processes to capture equal number of male and female beneficiaries to ensure that their interests are equitably represented.

The present situation where men dominate in community projects as beneficiaries and as decision makers, if women are not vulnerable is uncalled for. Women represent more than half of the world population and are most affected during climate change disasters. The women provide invaluable contributions to sustaining communities around the world, therefore their role and know how in community development should be valued and utilized.

 This will make climate change adaptation projects participatory, community driven and sustainable. However ensuring gender equality requires explicit and systematic attention to gender perspectives in all climate change adaptation activities including compliance, monitoring and enforcement.