Manifestation of climate change on the livelihoods of women in Kwale County, Kenya

Abstract

Climate change constitutes one of the development challenges in the 21st century. In Kenya, the formulation of a regulatory framework for enhanced response to climate change hasn’t adequately managed the resulting outcomes. Available studies have indicated that the effects of climate change are widespread, however, this study focused on women as a specific vulnerable group which has been affected by climate change in order to derive appropriate mechanisms of mitigation and adaptation. The purpose of the study was to establish the manifestations of climate change on the livelihoods of women in Kwale County, Kenya. It was guided by the following objectives: to assess the women’s perception of climate change in Kwale County, evaluate the impact of climate change on the livelihoods of the women in Kwale, assess the adaptive strategies to the effects of climate change by the women in Kwale County and determine the challenges encountered in the implementation of the adaptation strategies. The study was based on the Sustainable Livelihoods Framework. A descriptive survey research design was utilized and the target population was 192 women groups that are active in Kwale County each with an average of 10 members. The sample size was determined using Yamane formula and the sampling techniques utilized were simple random and purposive sampling. The instruments of data collection were structured questionnaires, key informant interviews and observation. The quantitative data was subjected to the SPSS program and analyzed using the measures of frequency, percentages, mean and standard deviation. In addition, correlation analysis was done using the Pearson correlation coefficient to determine the strength and direction of the relationship between the effects of climate change and the livelihood outcomes. The Qualitative data was analyzed using content analysis and presented through illustrative quotations. The results established that increase in temperatures at 95%, decrease in rainfall amounts at 89.2% and increased incidences of drought at 96.2% were the highest perceived changes in climate in the study area. These perceived climatic changes were to a great extent negatively affecting the women’s livelihood assests in agriculture, food security, water resources, energy resources and health. Consequently, the women were implementing various adaptation strategies with the most frequently used being diversification into non-farm activities at a mean of 3.30. However, their adaptation capacity was challenged by the barriers of lack of relevant skills and training, lack of capital, inadequate reliable information on climate change, inadequate infrastructure, poor health and the greatest barrier was water scarcity at 81.5%. The findings indicated that there was a significant moderate negative correlation between the effects of climate change and the livelihood outcomes at 5%. It was concluded that the women were well aware of the changes in climate. Even with the onset of the negative effects of these changes on their livelihood assets, there was a positive shift to other sources of livelihoods albeit as short term interventions because of existing barriers. The study recommended that the government and other intervening institutions should consider the existing autonomous strategies that are being used and built on them to enhance the resilience of the women thereby enhancing their potential as central agents in the process of climate change adaptation.