OneWorld

Project: Preparation of a regional report on gender-differentiated impacts of climate change in Southern Africa

Location:Botswana, Namibia, Mocambiqe and South Africa

Client: Heinrich Böll Stiftung

Timeline: October 2009—December 2010

Description:  Sub-Saharan Africa is set to be one of the regions hardest hit by climate change, partly because 96% of its population is dependent on rainfed agriculture (WorldBank, 2008) and partly because of Africa’s poor adaptive capacity, relating to historical backlogs of under-development. Examples are poor access to health services, lack of availability of micro-finance, and under-developed infrastructure and transport systems. Although various studies have recorded general impacts of climate change, few have addressed gender-differentiated aspects. In this context, the Heinrich Böll Stiftung (HBS) commissioned four country reports to investigate gender-differentiated impacts of climate change, focusing on poor, rural communities where climate impacts are already being felt. OneWorld was commissioned to write a consolidate report incorporating the findings of the four country studies into a regional report.