Climate Change: How Does It Affect Women, Men, Girls and Boys

Differently in Malawi? TOPS Research Findings and Preliminary Recommendations Presentation

Gillian McKay, Global Behaviour Change Advisor

GOAL Global

GOAL Malawi

In Malawi since 2002

Specialists in Long Term Development Programming

Emphasis on Community Resilience through:

Gender Focused Livelihoods & Food Security, DRR Nutrition, Community Health, WASH.

Present in Nsanje, Blantyre, Balaka, Chikwawa, Neno Districts

Climate Change in Malawi

Malawi’s National Adaptation Programme of Action (NAPA) identifies droughts and floods as the most serious and significant recurring climatic events.

Amount and patterns of rainfall affect crop production which impacts on the market i.e. food prices and supply chain infrastructure (Gregory, 2005).

Gap Identification

Due to these recurring climatic hazards the Malawian Government has put in place disaster risk management structures from the district to village development committee level.

GOAL Malawi supports these efforts through the DISCOVER Consortium, that seeks to increase resilience of the most vulnerable communities to the impacts of climate change.

GOAL Malawi observed a gap between how the Government structures perceive their roles, and how they function within disaster affected areas.

This is particularly true in relation to how they engage in gender awareness, gender sensitivity and gendered approaches to drought and flood response and mitigation measures.

Therefore a research study was proposed and accepted through TOPS to study and address this particular issue.

Climate Change in Malawi in 2015

TOPS Research

OBJECTIVES:

To investigate the impact of gendered vulnerability to climate changes and disasters on the food security of women, men, boys and girls.

Develop guidelines and recommendations based on the research findings for resilience programing specific to food security which will in turn strengthen disaster preparedness, prevention, response and mitigation measures appropriate and relevant for women, girls, boys and men.

Methodology

Desk Review of Literature

FGDs with Women, Men, Boys and Girls

Case Studies of W/M/B/G in Evacuation Camps

Key Informant Interviews with Government personnel, GBV Technical Working Group

Feedback Meetings at National and District levels

Quantitative questionnaire with demographic information and key questions around experience of droughts and floods

Findings – Communication of Impending Events

Women Men

Radio Weather pattern Extension workers Indigenous Knowledge Family and friends Government Officials NGO public awareness

Radio (more significant) Television Observations from Previous Years (inclusive of Indigenous Knowledge) Communications from Government Officials

Universal Findings: Challenges during Droughts

Food is scarce and costly

There is inadequate water

Minimized casual labour opportunities

Malnutrition for all (children and adults)

Money is scarce

Lack of necessities e.g. clothes, soap etc.

Increased insecurity due to a reduction in food and money

Gendered Findings: Challenges during Droughts Women Men

• Pregnant women are forced to consume unhealthy diets including food that will make them ill

• Marriages break up as husbands leave leaving women alone to raise children

• Increased difficulty in reaching Health Centre for ANC/PNC etc given weakness

• Increase in prostitution activities to gain money for food

• " Many women have become promiscuous and have changed their way of dressing to attract men so that they can have something to eat at the end of the day".

• Huge interest is charged on loans that are taken out by fathers.

• When moving away in drought times there is a loss of belongings

• Fear of moving the family as perception they could become ill

Findings Specific to Children - Droughts

Time for mothers to spend with children is reduced during times of droughts as they spend their time looking for food.

Parents may be more likely to send their children to school as they will get fed.

Children might also drop out of school to secure formal employment to help family, especially girl children

Girl child marriage becomes more common

Schoolwork suffers as children feel hungry in class.

More Findings from the Community re. Droughts

Preparation Coping Mechanisms Recommended Support

They keep firewood to sell during drought periods They plant with the first rains. They cultivate along river banks during the rainy season and their others that rent fields. The men use modern farming techniques, but some are not appropriate for women. They keep livestock to sell during the drought period. They do businesses to get extra income They buy food in advance at a time that it’s cheap and they store it for their consumption during the drought period. They do VSLs to have access to small loans. They do piece work and they save their income so that they can use it during the drought period

Casual labour They eat nyika Prostitution They don’t seek health care until the labor starts. The men also prepare for the droughts by planting drought resistant crops, planting early and diversifying their crops. They reduce the number of meals in a day Eating seeds for the following year, which are poisonous

Capital for business Food supply Boreholes or wells for water supply Job opportunities Cash transfers Loans Food for work programs Livestock Farm inputs e.g. treadle pumps, drought tolerant seeds, fertilizer etc. Improved infrastructure e.g. roads, strong homes Drought resistant seeds, new farming technology, new boreholes, food aid programs and small business loans that do not attract huge interests.

Universal Findings: Challenges during Floods

Dangerous canoes that can capsize

General hunger, as it is difficult to find food and to protect it

There are no opportunities for casual labour

Sometimes they have to escape without clothes

Injury/Death during the escape from floods

Loss of Property

Separation of family members

Camps have no separate toilet facilities for W/M/G/B so there are health risks going back to Open Defecation

People with disabilities may not be able to evacuate if they do not have family who can support them

Gendered Findings: Challenges during Floods Women Men

• Due to reduction in food intake the breastmilk dries up

• Health centres not available as roads impassable

• Fighting, Prostitution, Greed, Jealousy is common in the camps causing feelings of insecurity

• “The Family cohesion becomes less and less because of the lack of food. Men usually desert their families and they go to women that have access to food or that have not been affected by the disasters.”

• Concern about wild animals causing injury when fleeing in canoes

• Feelings of inadequacy due to inability to feed family

Findings Specific to Children - Floods

Time for mothers to spend with children is reduced during times of floods as they spend their time looking for food.

Children are often sent away to live with relatives in areas away from flooding.

Children may be vulnerable to sexual abuse in return for food in evacuation areas

School fees cannot be paid as all money goes for basic necessities if school even available

More Findings from the Community re. Floods

Preparation Coping Mechanisms Recommended Support

They keep a canoe nearby They build their houses on a higher platform They move their belongs and livestock to higher land. They store food to eat during the floods They practice winter cropping They plant trees and vetiva They construct dykes They use box ridges (milambala) when cultivating Look for extra work for extra income Prepare canoes in the event of flooding.

They drink porridge for supper Sometimes skip meals. Children sent away. Prostitution in the camps

Support to build homes in the uplands, only use flood prone areas for cultivation- Rescue boats Hybrid seeds Employment opportunities Food aid and Cash transfers during floods Disabled people should be permanently supported to move to the uplands, and should be given Livelihood supports Should be provided with money, food, beddings, treadle pumps, kitchen utensils, soap, clothes, seeds and tents. People should be given loans Schooling opportunities for children Improve safety in the camps People with disabilities should be consulted to see if they can be moved upland permanently

Key Recommendations – Droughts - Stakeholder Meeting

Given women’s increased vulnerabilities in drought-prone areas, increased livelihoods and training opportunities are required

Modern farming techniques that are appropriate for men and women need to be promoted.

Counselling services needed for girls and their families to help keep them in school during times of hardship

Improved market linkages that occur close to home to enable women and men to participate equally

Key Recommendations – Floods - Stakeholder Meeting

Relocation to “uplands” in the same Traditional Authority needs to take into account women’s land rights

Canoes can be held in trust for especially vulnerable people (including female-headed households, people with disabilities and the chronically ill) to allow for evacuation

Gendered training provided to local community boards who make decisions around DRR

Sirens to be used to alert the community as often vulnerable groups do not have radios or mobile phones

Key Recommendations – Evacuation Camps - Stakeholder Meeting

Appropriate toilet facilities for M/W/G/B

NFIs including menstrual hygiene items for W/G

Improve lighting in the camps to reduce SGBV

Food within camps needs to be appropriate for all, including pregnant women

Set up temporary schools in camps to ensure boys and girls do not have to take up work or be vulnerable to exploitation

Free condoms in toilets and other locations

Suggestions?

Many thanks!

Discussion Questions

Many of the suggested mitigation strategies are highly dependent on government and NGO supports (i.e. handouts). How can we work with the community to consider how to use their own strengths to mitigate these events?

Women and Men’s perceptions of Climate Change events like droughts and floods are similar in many ways, but there are key challenges faced by men and women (i.e. men – taking out big loans at high interest, women – resorting to prostitution). How can INGOs engaging in Climate Change programming ensure to identify these key challenges, and programme for them?