Although gender considerations are relatively new in the climate change discourse, it is hardly surprising that they have been at the heart of recent activism and policy advocacy efforts by multiple actors. Socio-economic research and evaluations of development effectiveness both confirm that access to resources and the agency to use them are influenced by gender roles, responsibilities and differential access to opportunities and influence
The findings of this research reveal the key role of informal and formal institutions in the local responses to climate change and, correlatively, the need for institutional strengthening as well as innovation in the existing ‘traditional’ coping strategies for climate shocks and hazards. The research findings also highlight the importance of gender inequalities as major social barriers to the development of adequate adaptation strategies by and for women.