Investigating the Gender-Climate Nexus: Strengthening Women’s Roles in Adaptation and Mitigation in the Sidi Bouzid Region
Abstract
1. Introduction
2. Research Methodology
2.1. Mapping of Agricultural Organizations
2.2. Focus Group Discussions
2.3. Data Gathering
2.4. Analytical Methods
3. Results
3.1. Descriptive Analysis
3.1.1. Sociodemographic Profile of Agricultural Development Group Members
3.1.2. Activities by Gender
3.1.3. Access to Water
3.2. Gender Disparities in Climate Vulnerability
3.2.1. Rural Women’s Perception of Climate Change
3.2.2. Climate Change’s Impact on Rural Women
3.3. Analyzing Rural Women’s Vulnerability to Climate Change: The MCA Approach
3.3.1. Group1: Severely Vulnerable Women
3.3.2. Group 2: Vulnerable Women
3.3.3. Group 3: Adaptive Women
3.4. Strategies for Coping with Climate Change
4. Discussion
5. Conclusions
Author Contributions
Funding
Institutional Review Board Statement
Informed Consent Statement
Data Availability Statement
Acknowledgments
Conflicts of Interest
Abbreviations
G3CA | Gender Climate Change and Community Adaptation |
INRAT | National Institute of Agronomic Research of Tunisia |
INAT | National Agronomic Institute of Tunisia |
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Categories | Indicators | Descriptions |
---|---|---|
Demographic and socioeconomic characteristics | Age | The classification that has been provided provided helps to segment women into different age groups to better understand how water scarcity affects them differently. These age categories allow for a more nuanced analysis of their experiences, vulnerabilities, and coping mechanisms related to water issues [28]. Here is a summary of each group: -Younger Women (19–30 years); -Middle-Aged Women (31–49 years); -Older Women (50+ years); |
Education level | This variable refers to the highest level of formal schooling or vocational training attained by the women in this study. Understanding the education level of participants helps to identify potential gaps in knowledge and the need for targeted educational interventions to strengthen women’s roles in climate adaptation and mitigation [29]. | |
Dependence on natural resource | Access to water | This variable refers to the availability and proximity of safe, clean water sources for households in the Sidi Bouzid region. This variable is critical in understanding women’s vulnerability to water scarcity, as access directly impacts daily livelihoods, health, and adaptation strategies. Limited access to water often exacerbates women’s roles in water collection and management, heightening their exposure to climate risks [29]. |
Water insecurity | This variable refers to the inconsistent or unreliable availability of sufficient water for drinking, sanitation, agriculture, and other daily needs [30] | |
Water collection labor | This variable describes water collection labor among women. it involves the time and physical effort spent by women and households in gathering water, often from distant or unreliable sources. It also involves participation in community decision-making related to climate adaptation [31]. | |
Economic | Lack of income diversification | This variable refers to the limited variety of income sources available to households, particularly for women in the Sidi Bouzid region. This economic vulnerability is exacerbated in contexts of water scarcity, as reliance on a single income stream—often linked to agriculture or natural resource-based activities—leaves households highly susceptible to climate shocks. Without access to alternative livelihoods, women face increased financial insecurity and reduced capacity to adapt to the impacts of water stress, hindering their roles in climate adaptation and mitigation strategies [32]. |
Social | Women’s roles, and access to support | Social vulnerability in this context is shaped by the intersection of family stress, gendered roles, and limited institutional and community support. Women, particularly those in rural areas, face significant family conflicts and stress due to the burdens of water collection and the economic impacts of water scarcity [31]. |
Activity | Task/Responsibility of Men | Task/Responsibility of Women |
---|---|---|
Water Collection | -Generally, they do not participate in this activity. | -They bear the primary responsibility for water collection (water fetching), which is physically demanding and essential for the well-being and survival of families and communities. |
Processing and sale of local products (thyme, rosemary, harissa, etc.) | -Do not participate. | -Responsible for the collection, processing, and sale of non-timber forest products within the GAEC. -They process vegetables and fruits into traditional products such as harissa, date syrup, and pomegranate syrup for Aoula. |
Work on agricultural holdings | -Heads of operations: manage and plan agricultural activities, control resources, and make decisions regarding crop selection, irrigation planning, etc. | -A minority of women hold the position of head of operations. -Specific responsibility: women are primarily responsible for harvesting crops such as olives, tomatoes, and peppers, often under difficult working conditions and at very low prices. |
Childcare and education | -Men make decisions regarding children’s education, but the day-to-day responsibility remains with women. | -Women are responsible for paying school fees, taking care of the sick, taking family members to the doctor, and buying medications. |
Harvesting of forest products | -Do not participate in this activity. | -Have access to forests but do not control the forests or make decisions regarding them. -Responsible for harvesting non-timber forest products. |
Battoumet | Magdiat | Total | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Number | % | Number | % | Number | % | |
Local practices | 8 | 27 | 4 | 13 | 12 | 40 |
Neighbors and group members | 3 | 10 | 6 | 20 | 9 | 30 |
Media platforms | 6 | 20 | - | - | 6 | 20 |
Non governemental organizations | 3 | 10 | - | - | 3 | 10 |
Indicators | Group 1 | Group 2 | Group 3 |
---|---|---|---|
Age | |||
Education level | |||
Access to water | |||
Water collection labor (collection time) | |||
Income diversification | |||
Women’s access to support |
Strategy Name | Kind of Stakeholders | Outputs and Outcomes |
---|---|---|
Implementation of international projects (TWIZA, ACESS, G3CA) | Civil society, rural women’s District, Ministry of agriculture and INRAT | -Enhancement of women’s access to climate finance. -Enhancement of market access -Increase in women’s earnings. |
Use research products to build scientific credibility | INRAT, civil society | -Development of research papers, policy papers and policy briefs that have increased policymakers’ commitment to integrating gender into climate change policies and actions. -Development guidelines for gender integration in climate change strategy |
Co-learning and co-production of knowledge | INRAT, INAT, ministry of agriculture | -The National Institute of Agricultural Research of Tunisia (INRAT) in collaboration with APEDDUB had already been implementing some projects (G3CA) that included gender capacity building. -Another capacity-building event was organized to deepen rural women’s understanding of the impacts of climate change and the solutions they can adopt. Development of a Best Practices Guide |
Development of partenership and international alliance | SSN, WWF, Hivos, INRAT, medias, ministry of agriculture | -Building alliances, exchanging information and coordinating, with invisible stakeholder were highly influential in the implementation of an intervention |
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Mazhoud, H.; Boucif, A.; Ouhibi, A.; Hajji-Hedfi, L.; Chemak, F. Investigating the Gender-Climate Nexus: Strengthening Women’s Roles in Adaptation and Mitigation in the Sidi Bouzid Region. Climate 2025, 13, 164. https://doi.org/10.3390/cli13080164
Mazhoud H, Boucif A, Ouhibi A, Hajji-Hedfi L, Chemak F. Investigating the Gender-Climate Nexus: Strengthening Women’s Roles in Adaptation and Mitigation in the Sidi Bouzid Region. Climate. 2025; 13(8):164. https://doi.org/10.3390/cli13080164
Chicago/Turabian StyleMazhoud, Houda, Arij Boucif, Abir Ouhibi, Lobna Hajji-Hedfi, and Fraj Chemak. 2025. "Investigating the Gender-Climate Nexus: Strengthening Women’s Roles in Adaptation and Mitigation in the Sidi Bouzid Region" Climate 13, no. 8: 164. https://doi.org/10.3390/cli13080164
APA StyleMazhoud, H., Boucif, A., Ouhibi, A., Hajji-Hedfi, L., & Chemak, F. (2025). Investigating the Gender-Climate Nexus: Strengthening Women’s Roles in Adaptation and Mitigation in the Sidi Bouzid Region. Climate, 13(8), 164. https://doi.org/10.3390/cli13080164