The role of gender in improving adaptation to climate change among small-scale fishers
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Date
2017
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Climate and Development
Abstract
Climate change disproportionately affects marginalized groups, especially women. To guide the integration of gender roles in
interventions to improve adaptation, we examined gender roles among fishers on Lake Wamala, Uganda, which has been
increasingly affected by climate change. We found lower participation of women than men in preharvest and postharvest
fishing activities, with 99% of fishers and 92.9% of fish processors and traders combined being men. The men had more
fishing experience, started fishing at a younger age and exited at a later age, targeted more species, used more fishing
gears and bought more fish for processing and trading. Although we observed diversification to non-fishery livelihoods,
such as crop and livestock production to increase food security and income among others, income from these activities
was not controlled or shared equally between men and women. Compared to men, women worked longer hours, engaging
in more simultaneous activities both in and out of the home and reported less time resting. The income controlled by
women was used directly to meet household needs. The implications of these differences for adaptation, what men and
women can do best to enhance adaptation and how some adaptation practices and interventions can be implemented to
benefit both men and women are discussed.
Description
Keywords
adaptation, climate change, small-scale fishers, gender, livelihoods, Uganda
Citation
Laban Musinguzi, Vianny Natugonza, Jackson Efitre & Richard Ogutu-Ohwayo (2017): The role of gender in improving adaptation to climate change among small-scale fishers, Climate and Development, DOI: 10.1080/17565529.2017.1372262