2025/03/24 by Kongnso, Moye Eric
#Adaptation #Climate change #Eco-feminism #Feminism #Gender #Mbororo women #Pastoralists' indigenous knowledge
paper · doi:10.57832/7082-tf35
The indigenous Mbororo pastoralists are hardest hit by climate variability and change due to their inextricable link with the natural environment and their limited coping options. With the guiding premise that Mbororo women are highly vulnerable to the vagaries of weather, this study set out to examine their role in enhancing adaptation to climate variability and change. With a qualitative approach, data was collected from Mbororo pastoralists (9), crop farmers (6), traditional authorities (3), heads of Mbororo women groups (3) and members of MBOSCUDA (4) purposively selected from Mbororo communities in the region. Secondary data was obtained from online publications, reports and archives. Data collected was coded and treated in Atlas.Ti. Content and thematic analyses were made under the lens of eco-feminist theory. Results revealed that women have valuable knowledge systems and are always at the forefront of adaptation, especially in cases of men's out-migration. Women have been actively involved in livelihood diversification such as cattle milking and crop farming thereby strengthening their resilience and reducing weather shocks. Unlike before, more than 60% of Mbororo women now rear smaller animals such as goats and sheep which are more adaptable than cattle. Nonetheless, the role of women in the implementation of these indigenous knowledge systems has been undermined. Gender discrimination on land ownership, low level of education, inadequate financial resources and low participation of women in decision-making are some of the factors hindering adaptation. Hence, policies on climate change adaptation must be gender-responsive and take into consideration indigenous people and their local knowledge systems.