Research Proposal

Amos Onyango Okello

THE POLITICS OF UNCERTAINTY AND ADAPTATION TO CLIMATE CHANGE IN

KENYA AND TANZANIA
The research on “The politics of uncertainty and adaptation to climate change” is of great interest
to me, and more specifically the gendered perspective as indicated in the objective provided.
Efforts to upscale women participation in decision making at the local-level still remain
unsatisfactory. Yet, there has been sustained effort for gender equality at the macro level
including legislations to enforce gender balance rule in public institutions. Of importance is the
patriarchal nature of most African societies where men continue to dominate decision making.

Understandably, the threats of climate change affect women differently from men due to their
social roles and responsibilities. The uncertainty characterized by climate related shocks and
stressors including droughts, floods, changing rainfall patterns as well as temperature often
disproportionately affect women more than men. These effects vary from regions, generations,
income groups, abilities and occupations.

The patriarchal nature of most African society means that men are traditionally privileged in
many ways that often perpetuates discrimination in access to opportunities for women. Power
differences which perpetuate sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV), limited participation of
women in politics and decision-making, lack of employment opportunities for women, the
unequal share of unpaid work done by women, and limited access to resources and opportunities
means that women are more vulnerable to the negative impacts of climate change. Therefore,
efforts to upscale gender parity requires positive discrimination in favour of women both at the
macro and local levels.

Whereas legal instruments have been developed both at country level and international
institutions, for example the provision of one third gender rule in the Kenya Constitution 2010,
the Convention on Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), the
Beijing Platform of Action and the African Women Maputo Protocol and Commitments, there
still exist evidence of disparity in women participation in politics and economics. The
implementation of these legal instruments, is hindered by the lack of political good will from the
male dominated executive and legislative bodies.

Of noteworthy is that Gender and Climate Change is now a standing agenda item in United
Nations Framework Convention (UNFCCC) negotiations. The Paris Agreement on Climate
acknowledges gender equality and empowerment of women and intergenerational equality,
however there are still uncertainties in the impact of these legal frameworks at the local level.

According to the Fifth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
(IPCC), there exists robust evidence for increased gender inequality. This is in regard to the fact
that weather events and climate-related disasters are intertwined with socioeconomic,
institutional, cultural and political drivers that perpetuate differential vulnerabilities (Owino H.,
2017).

Limitation of women to adapt to impact of climate change is further exacerbated by viewing

women as victims rather than key actors who have critical knowledge of their society, economy,
and environment, as well as practical skills, which, when recognized and used, can be effective
in risk reduction and adaptation.

The core objective of this project is to examine how gendered differences in experiences,
strategies and knowledges of climate-related uncertainties of communities can inform policies
and strategies for adaptation or mitigation. The context of this research work is fairly focused
with expected results clearly defined.

Taking Kenya and Tanzania as a case studies, a systemic empirical research will be carried out
using critical and interpretive methods. Interpretive methods are more situated for this project
since it enables the researcher to focus on the understanding context specific meaning rather than
seeking generalized meaning abstracted from a particular context (Shwartz-Shea & Dvora
Yanow 2013). In this project, we will be dealing with the gendered experiences of communities
with regard to climate related uncertainties and how this can build into mitigating measures.

More so, with a clear objective and a clearly defined expected results, interpretive method will
allow us to analyze subjective account generated by the community as well as understand
situations and concepts as provided by the normal flow of activity, in other words understanding
of concepts will be informed by evidence from the field rather than bringing our own concept to
the field to test their accuracy.

Data will be collected primarily using qualitative method. With a clear setout objective, what the
research will be seeking to establish is more of “how” and “why” rather than “what” of the
problem, hence the choice of quantitative method. For instance, we will be asking how the
gender parity impacted on climate change mitigation. Or why policy interventions have not had
positive impact at the community level and more specifically with regard to women.
Furthermore, qualitative approach will be employed because of its suitability for research that are
exploratory, which makes it possible to identify variables. (Cresswell, J. W. 2009). Moreover,
qualitative approach is also suited for detailed and complex analysis of a given issue as well as
for problems that cannot easily be quantified (Cresswell, J. W. 2009) such as the problem at
hand.

Data collection techniques to be employed will include literature reviews, focus group
discussion, interviews, Ethnographies, Oral History, Questionnaires and Surveys, observations,
and creative strategies.

Within this methodological framework, the research will be conducted in a three-step process
with varied timeline within the three (3) year research period. First, a comprehensive review of
the literature will be conducted. Second, based on the critical engagement with the literature we
will identify certain propositions and concepts regarding the problem at hand and test these
propositions based on field research. Finally, we will draft the final dissertation, recording the
finding and providing recommendations.
Bibliography
Burrell, G and Morgan, G (1979) Sociological paradigms and organizational analysis. London:
Heinemann

Creswell, J. W., (2009) Research Design:  Qualitative, Quantitative, and Mixed Methods
Approaches. London: SAGE Publications

Owino, H., “Climate change in Kenya and its impact on gender” June 2017 http://kw.awcfs.org

Schwartz-Shea, P., and D. Yanow. (2013) Interpretive Research Design: Concepts and
Processes. New York, Routledge.