Gender strategy on weather and climate Information services in East Africa

Climate change poses a significant threat to social and economic development in sub-Saharan Africa, particularly in Eastern Africa, where high dependence on agriculture increases vulnerability. However, climate change impacts are not uniform, disproportionately affecting women, youth, and people living with disabilities (PLWDs) due to structural inequalities and limited access to weather and climate information services (WCIS). The Enhancing Climate Change Resilience in East Africa (ECREA) project, funded by the UK Government’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) and implemented by the International Centre for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT) through the Pan-Africa Bean Research Alliance (PABRA), seeks to strengthen the adaptive capacity of smallholder farmers in Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, and Tanzania. The project focuses on the co-design and co-production of inclusive WCIS and impact-based early warning systems (IBEWS) to improve accessibility and utilization among marginalized groups.

A review of literature and ECREA’s qualitative and quantitative studies reveal persistent gender disparities in access to and utilization of WCIS, attributed to cultural norms, male-dominated decision-making structures, trust issues, timing of information dissemination, and digital literacy gaps. Additionally, limited integration of traditional knowledge into climate information services further reduces adoption and trust among smallholder farmers. Addressing these barriers is crucial to ensuring equitable participation in climate adaptation efforts.

To bridge these gaps, the ECREA gender strategy outlines approaches to enhancing representation and participation of women, youth, and marginalized groups in WCIS production and dissemination. The strategy promotes policy reforms, capacity-building, integration of indigenous knowledge, and institutional transformations to address structural barriers. It also provides a framework for monitoring and evaluating gender-responsive interventions, ensuring that WCIS supports climate-smart agriculture, enhances agricultural productivity, and strengthens community resilience to climate change in Eastern Africa.