The important role of women in ensuring food security and in coping with climate change cannot be denied. Thus, it is extremely important that the gender dimension not be left out in any analysis, discussion, and programs that seek to achieve food security and address climate change.
Last year, through its researcher, Ms. Riza Bernabe, AFA conducted a participatory gender study supported by IFAD in 5 countries – Philippines, Indonesia, Timor Leste, Cambodia, Thailand — in order to seek out this perspective. The research was informed by village, district and national consultations, as well as secondary data gathering.
The initial findings of the research show that: women indeed play very important roles in ensuring food security; climate change impacts women and men differently, with women bearing the brunt of the negative impacts. The research was also able to seek out the different food security initiatives and climate change coping strategies of small scale farmers, especially women farmers, in Asia.
AFA’s research brief on its participatory gender study entitled “Understanding the Gender Dimensions in Food Security and Climate Change” was distributed during the climate change negotiations in Copenhagen last December, where AFA was represented by Ms. Riza Bernabe, who was part of the Philippine delegation and who worked closely with CSOs looking into agriculture in the UNFCC negotiations. Ms. Bernabe’s participation in the event was supported by WOCAN (Women Organizing for Change in Agriculture & NRM).
The first cut of AFA’s video on the gender dimensions in food security and climate change was shown during a side meeting of women’s groups who were in Copenhagen for the climate change negotiations last December.
This January, another set of village, district and national consultations will be held in Laos. The consultations will be an important part of the research. It will also give AFA a chance to touch base with farmers in Laos and hopefully lead to a partnership and cooperation towards a building of a national farmers’ organization who can be a member of AFA in the future.
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