Gendered Gaps in the Adoption of Climate-Smart Agriculture in Africa and How to Overcome Them

Sofiane Boudalia (), Mahilet Dawit Teweldebirhan, Thaddaeus Obaji Ariom, Ndèye Seynabou Diouf, Eva Nambeye, Therese Mwatitha Gondwe, Michele Mbo’o-Tchouawou, Sheila A. Okoth and Sophia Huyer
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Sofiane Boudalia: Département d’Écologie et Génie de l’Environnement, Université 8 Mai 1945 Guelma, BP 4010, Guelma 24000, Algeria
Mahilet Dawit Teweldebirhan: School of Animal and Range Science, College of Agriculture and Environmental Science, Haramaya University, Dire Dawa P.O. Box 138, Ethiopia
Thaddaeus Obaji Ariom: Institute of Food Security, Environmental Resources and Agricultural Research, Department of Microbiology, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta P.O. Box 2240, Ogun State, Nigeria
Ndèye Seynabou Diouf: Independent Researcher, Cité Isra Bel Air, Dakar 10000, Senegal
Eva Nambeye: Department of Animal Science, School of Agricultural Sciences, University of Zambia, Lusaka P.O. Box 32379, Zambia
Therese Mwatitha Gondwe: International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), P.O. Box 30709, Nairobi 00100, Kenya
Michele Mbo’o-Tchouawou: African Women in Agricultural Research and Development (AWARD), Nairobi 00100, Kenya
Sheila A. Okoth: School of Biological Sciences, University of Nairobi, P.O. Box 30197, Nairobi 00100, Kenya
Sophia Huyer: International Livestock Research Institute, Dakar 00100, Senegal

Sustainability, 2024, vol. 16, issue 13, 1-18

Abstract: In Africa, the agricultural sector contributes approximately 10–20% of the total anthropogenic greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. It presents rapid growth as a result of rising food demand in Africa, which is being driven by population growth. Consequently, climate change can negatively affect crop yields and livestock production, thus threatening food security. This review highlights the existing gender gaps in African agriculture and discusses the drivers and barriers that maintain gender gaps in climate-smart agriculture (CSA) adoption in African countries. Moreover, the review offers a comprehensive roadmap for the essential measures required to facilitate the widespread uptake of CSA practices among female farmers. Several CSA practices were reported, such as agricultural practices, forest and cropland regeneration practices, water resources, and the use of weather and climate information services. The gender gap in the adoption of CSA practices was influenced by policy legislation, financial resources, social and cultural taboos, and technical determinants such as climate information access. To address this gender gap, scientific-outcome-based research should be used to address gender gaps among female small farmers. In conclusion, to overcome the gender gap in CSA adoption in Africa, this review recommends the use of a gender-responsive approach, the development of scientific research-driven measures, and the prioritization of gender equality in governments’ agendas in the context of climate change uncertainty.

Keywords: gender inequality; climate change; smallholder farmer; food security; adaptation strategies (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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