Equity and implications of response strategies on gender relations: Identifying ways of mainstreaming gender into response strategies in Southeast Nigeria

The interactions between prevailing gender gaps and climate variability and change (CVC) response strategies can intensify inequalities among farmers. Hence, this study examined implications of CVC response strategies on gender relations among farmers in Southeast Nigeria and ways of mainstreaming gender into the strategies. Specifically, it scrutinized the implications of CVC response strategies on gender relations; compliance of response strategies with equity dimensions and ways of mainstreaming gender into response strategies among farmers in SE region. Data were collected in various stages using focus group discussion, key informant interview and household (questionnaire) surveys of 150 men and 150 women farmers. Data analysis was performed using mean, standard deviations, and Pearson's chi-square in SPSS software. Findings revealed thatuse of government supports increase gender inequality because it provides limited gender sensitive response strategies. In addition, use of migrations cause women to spend more time on care giving works (p = 0.004). The response of men and women were significantly different for some variables that complied with contextual equity like the setting up of crop and animal insurance; procedural equity such as crop diversification (p = 0.020), and distributive equity such as the support of farmers to increase crop production. Gender differences (p < 0.05) exist in some ways of mainstreaming gender into response strategies such as improving women's training on access to fund, ensuring higher access to finance by women, and gender mainstreaming into traditional norms. Hence, this study recommends the use of gender-specific and equitable interventions such as providing trainings in line with needs of men and women to improve their information, technologies, knowledge and capacity for efficient use of CVC response strategies. In addition, there is need for sensitization of local communities to allow improved access to finance and economic resource for women in order to reduce gender inequalities and promote effective use of CVC response strategies.