Gender Equality, Climate Action, and Technological Innovation for Sustainable Development in Africa

Front matter

SPRINGER NATURE SDG: 13 Sustainable Development Goals Series Climate Action mv

Gender Equality, Climate Action, and Technological Innovation for Sustainable Development in Africa

Ogechi Adeola - Olaniyi Evans Innocent Ngare

Foreword

I am pleased to offer my personal perspective on this pioneering book, which explores the crucial intersection of gender equality, climate action, and technological innovation for sustainable development in Africa.

Addressing climate change can only be successful with a holistic approach that includes the most vulnerable at heart. Women, who make up half the global population, are the most impacted by the adverse effects of climate change due to existing social inequalities.

Integrating gender equality across all levels, right from climate policy development to project implementation, is critical to ensuring effective, inclusive, and more sustainable climate action that takes into account the different ways in which climate change affects different groups and, in particular, the disproportionate burden on women.

Gender Equality, Climate Action, and Technological Innovation for Sustainable Development in Africa is a forward-thinking and challenging book that calls for policymakers and practitioners to tackle the climate crisis from a gender lens whilst utilising the benefits of technology. It focuses on the African region and the agriculture sector, which have been identified as one of the most vulnerable regions and sectors to climate change.

The book provides an in-depth understanding of the prevailing climate change issues in Africa, the gender gaps to be bridged in the region’s agricultural sector, and African indigenous knowledge of climate action. It also puts forward a set of recommendations for the green reskilling of women, as well as climate-smart technologies for the empowerment of African women farmers.

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In a unique way, the authors have shown a clear link and the benefits of women integration for climate action for achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG13. Looking through the gender lens and within the African agricultural context, I want to call attention to two important aspects the book highlights: skills for a gender-just transition and collaboration between modern and indigenous technologies and practices.

I am delighted with this book which will serve as a useful reference tool for policymakers and practitioners. It provides relevant information for addressing climate change with the approach of ensuring the engagement of all, including women and young people, as positive agents of change and not only beneficiaries, with their inclusion in all aspects of climate action, from decision-making to implementation.

Adviser, Climate Change Uzoamaka U. Nwamarah The Commonwealth Secretariat

Preface

Climate change has been responsible for disasters, destruction, and deaths across the globe. The United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) include SDG 13: Climate Action, which outlines specific measures that can be taken to mitigate and adapt to climate change issues with longlasting effects on the earth’s sustainability. The target achievement goal for these actions is set for 2030.

Africa’s women and girls have been given insufficient attention in programmes aimed at addressing climate change issues that threaten the availability of food and clean water—necessities that are fundamental to their traditional roles as caregivers. To effectively tackle climate change, dialogues must include an analysis of gender-specific loss and damage, adaptation, mitigation, funding, and justice. Stakeholders must prioritise protecting this most vulnerable group by developing gender-inclusive policies and strategies.

This book chronicles the influence of Africa’s women and girls, who are at the same time victims of climate change and protagonists of climate action towards sustainable development. Their perspective is shaping the continent’s culture and politics when it is incorporated into climate debates, policy formulations and implementations, funding distributions, and mitigation through innovative approaches and adaptations. Authors document the inclusive policies that will protect women and girls from the harsh effects of climate change, the various roles they can play in promoting equitable and sustainable climate action, and ways both genders can collaborate at all policymaking levels to develop frameworks that can mitigate the consequences of environmental hazards.

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X PREFACE

In Africa and other parts of the world, women play a crucial role in any discussion about the future of the climate, the role of technology in facilitating climate action outcomes, fostering climate change resilience, enhancing the utilisation of renewable energy and resources, creating jobs, and improving health and well-being. This book advocates for women to have a representative voice in every climate change conversation. Gender equality in Africa will not accord less value to men’s role, but complement it by providing the objectivity needed to build a collaborative effort to achieve the United Nations’ SDG 13, mainstream gender priorities, implement action plans, and achieve effective and sustainable outcomes.

This book adopts an integrated approach to sustainable development, focusing on the interconnectedness of gender, climate action, and technological innovation within the context of the vulnerability of African women. Embedded in these topics is the need for infrastructural development and education to protect women and offer life-long learning and skill achievement opportunities. The enhanced Gender Action Plan (GAP) adopted in December 2019 at the 25th Conference of Parties of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP25) included a veritable framework of well-defined priorities to advance knowledge of gender-responsive climate actions. One of the recommendations of the book is the adoption and implementation of the GAP by identified stakeholders.

Robust frameworks that include gendered perspectives and technological innovation are needed to mitigate the effects of climate change disasters and pandemics: disease, displacement, inadequate food and clean water, impaired sources of livelihood, and infrastructural and environmental damage. This book contributes to the growing body of knowledge on the impact of climate change and technological innovation on women, and the need for response, protection, and recovery plans. Policymakers, activists, students, academics, gender specialists, and anyone interested in climate change, gender equality, and social justice can benefit from this resource.

Part A: GENDER AND CLIMATE CHANGE

Chapter 1: Introduction

This introductory chapter sets the tone for understanding why and how women in Africa are disproportionately affected by climate change events

PREFACE Xi that damage or destroy their environment. The chapter introduces the core discussions in the book, including climate change and relief actions, sustainable development, and the impact of climate disasters on women and girls. Evidence is presented to support the notion that women can play a significant role in mitigating climate disasters in Africa through climate adaptations.

The chapter provides a background of global climate actions aimed at advancing progressive strategies to combat Africa’s climate change challenges, implement policy directions to protect women, and incorporate the priorities of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change Gender Action Plan (GAP). The chapter also recommends innovative technology interventions as tools to promote women’s social and economic roles in efforts to mitigate the hazards related to climate change.

Chapter 2: Gender and Climate Issues in Africa: Regional Insights, Challenges, and Recommendations

Africa has many volatile regions with varying unprecedented social and political conflicts compounded by climate change. Some regions suffer from food insecurity, especially in rural areas where women and girls engaged in agriculture lose their livelihoods to unstable climate conditions. In other regions, severe exponential cases of high temperatures cause drought and severe clean water shortages, which have a disproportionate effect on women responsible for the care and feeding of families. Climate-related disasters such as fires, flooding, and torrential rainfall have resulted in displacement, forcing women and children into internally displaced persons (IDP) camps, where they are at greater risk than men of assaults and forced marriages. Women, therefore, must be given an opportunity to influence actions on climate-related issues that affect their well-being. This chapter offers valuable insights into gender and climate issues specific to the four regions of Africa, as well as how women can be integrated into the core of decision-making processes.

Chapter 3: Explaining Gendered Vulnerability to Climate Change: The Contextual Conditions

Recent climatological events around the world, particularly in Africa, are clear evidence that climate change poses a severe threat to the human race. The dangers of global warming—a related primary concern—and cultural xii PREFACE issues affecting gender norms and the involvement of women in combating climate change are receiving global attention. This chapter discusses gender differences in a climate change context: How do women and men experience unique vulnerabilities to the effects of climate change?

Chapter 4: Climate Change and Gender Gaps in Africa’s Agricultural Sector

In Africa’s agricultural sector, gender gaps exist in the legal ownership of land and resources. The adaptive capacities of men and women differ due to inconsistent legal access to information, financial support, and control of resources. Additionally, cultural traditions that limit ownership rights exacerbate these gaps. The agricultural sector in Africa is highly vulnerable to climate change, with smallholder farmers, mostly women, being the most affected. This chapter explores the complementary phenomena of climate change and gender gaps in Africa’s agricultural sector. It emphasises the importance of promoting equity between male and female farmers. Addressing gender gaps in access to resources and information can enhance women’s adaptive capacities and build resilience to climate change impacts. By fostering gender equity, we can create a more inclusive and sustainable agricultural sector that benefits all farmers.

Part B: TECHNOLOGY AND CLIMATE CHANGE

Chapter 5: Leveraging ICT for Climate Change Adaptation in Africa: A Focus on Women

Information and Communications Technology (ICT) is a vital tool for driving transformative reforms necessary for effective climate change mitigation in Africa. It is a crucial enabler of sustainable development, and emerging advanced technologies can help mitigate the impacts of climate change. This chapter contributes to the ongoing discourse on climate change and digitalisation in Africa, introducing the section on technological innovation and climate change. It discusses the potential of ICT-enabled energy transitions for climate change mitigation and provides recommendations on how Africa can leverage technology to mitigate the impact of climate change, particularly in the context of growth opportunities. In addition to climate change mitigation, adaptation is also a critical factor that must be considered when adopting ICT innovations. The

PREFACE xiii ability to adapt will help ensure the resilience of African nations in the face of climate change impacts.

Chapter 6: Climate-Smart Technologies for Empowerment of Women Farmers in Africa

Women are well represented in the agricultural sector in Africa, and they contribute immensely to all aspects of the sector’s value chain. The sector is also one of the most vulnerable to climate change-related disasters, often displacing women economically and socially. This chapter examines the ways climate-smart technologies empower women farmers in Africa and elaborates on the crucial need for the adoption of these technologies to protect the food chain and livelihoods of stakeholders in Africa and within the world marketplace.

Chapter 7: Cleantech, Telehealth, and Other Emerging Technologies for Improving African Women’s Adaptation to Climate Change

Despite the progress in recent decades regarding gender equality, specific issues remain unaddressed. One such issue is the lack of women’s access to cleantech, telehealth, edtech, blockchain, and artificial intelligence. The benefits associated with these technologies are numerous and can improve the socioeconomic status of African women in diverse areas such as the financial markets, entrepreneurship, and the labour market. This chapter, therefore, explores the potential of these identified digital technologies for women’s development in Africa.

Part C: THE Way FORWARD

Chapter 8: African Indigenous Knowledge and Climate Change Mitigation: Towards an Afro-Sensed Perspective

Mitigating the harmful effects of climate change, along with the urgent need for the implementation of adaptation measures, has become an issue of global concern. Indigenous African knowledge embodies inherited wisdom, ideologies, attitudes, and practices that could be marshalled to become vital contributors to the mitigation and adaptation of climate xiv PREFACE change in Africa. This chapter emphasises the need for an Afro-sensed perspective in mitigating climate change risks and adapting to its impacts.

Chapter 9: Green Reskilling of African Women for Climate Action

Transitioning to an inclusive green economy requires green competencies to ensure gender equality and empowerment for women and girls. Enhancing sustainable responses to climate challenges should reflect inclusive gender and resilient, eco-friendly approaches. This chapter identifies potential skill-acquisition opportunities that gender and green economy paradigms offer to counter proliferating climate change consequences in this era of climate change in Africa. It also positions women as agents of positive change for enhanced climate action.

Chapter 10: Gender Equality, Climate Action, and Technological Innovation for Sustainable Development in Africa: Conclusion and Recommendations

This chapter presents a cohesive argument for the purposeful consideration of gender equality, climate action, and technological innovation as building blocks for sustainable development in Africa. Previous chapters have introduced salient issues emerging in the four regions of Africa, highlighting crucial climate issues that particularly affect women and girls. This closing chapter focuses on how to address these issues (climate change, gender inequities, and technological innovations) to meet the humanitarian goals established by the United Nations and policymakers within Africa and other developing regions.

Recommendations include strategies for African countries to address the risks associated with climate change and implement effective response plans to protect vulnerable groups, including women and girls. Finally, the chapter provides salient recommendations for gender-inclusive climate change policies, gender integration in climate change planning, and technological innovations for climate change mitigation and adaptation in Africa that will lead to sustainable development.

Lagos, Nigeria Ogechi Adeola Nairobi, Kenya Olaniyi Evans Innocent Ngare

Part I Gender and Climate Change 1

Gender Equality, Climate Action, and Technological Innovation for Sustainable Development in Africa: A Background 3

Explaining Gendered Vulnerability to Climate Change: The Contextual Conditions 59

Part II Technology and Climate Change 105

Leveraging ICT for Climate Change Adaptation in Africa: A Focus on Women 107

Climate-Smart Technologies for Empowerment of Women Farmers in Africa 131

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Cleantech, Telehealth, and Other Emerging Technologies for Improving African Women’s Adaptation to Climate Change

Part II The Way Forward

African Indigenous Knowledge and Climate Change Mitigation: Towards an Afro-Sensed. Perspective

Green Reskilling of African Women for Climate Action Gender Equality, Climate Action, and Technological

Innovation for Sustainable Development in Africa: Conclusion and Recommendations