Gender approaches in climate compatible development: Lessons from Kenya

This report examines the integration of gender-sensitive approaches into climate compatible development in urban Kisumu, Kenya. It uses the 'People’s Plans into Practice' (PPP) project (2008–2013) as a case study to analyze how gender relations influence vulnerability to climate risks and how participatory planning can empower marginalized groups. The study identifies structural, cultural, and policy barriers to gender equality while providing recommendations for national, county, and local policy-makers to better align gender and climate change interventions.

• Gender relations are a primary driver of vulnerability to climate risks in urban Kisumu, affecting the ability of men and women to cope and adapt. A gender-sensitive approach requires understanding these complexities, including how urban residents have shifted from traditional fisheries and agriculture toward business and salaried employment due to erratic rains and flooding.
• The People’s Plans into Practice (PPP) project integrated gender by ensuring balanced representation in committees and assigning roles based on capabilities. However, the study found that these roles often addressed 'functional needs' based on assumed current roles rather than 'strategic roles' that could fundamentally improve gender equality.
• Participatory design in the PPP project allowed for gender-specific infrastructure solutions. For example, toilet designs were adapted to include bins for sanitary towels and enhanced security features like lockable doors and better lighting to meet the specific needs of women.
• Women in Kisumu face significant structural barriers to empowerment, including limited land ownership. Because land is typically owned by men, women often cannot make decisions regarding interventions like improved housing without male consent.
• Cultural attitudes and social norms continue to hinder gender equality at both county and urban levels. This includes the intimidation of women by male counterparts in decision-making processes and the tendency for men to dominate meetings, which can discourage women from participating.
• Economic opportunities in waste management and recycling provide a pathway for women and youth to engage in climate-compatible development. The PPP project supported the formation of SMEs in waste management, where women often took on financial management roles while men handled manual labor.
• There is a critical lack of coordination between institutions addressing gender and those addressing climate change at the county level. The report suggests synergies, such as the Climate Change and Green Economy Unit collaborating with the Ministry of Gender to identify specific indicators.
• Gender-sensitive approaches improve climate compatible development outcomes by increasing planning flexibility and better responding to gender-based drivers of vulnerability. However, these require continuous dialogue among policy-makers and the use of gender-disaggregated data.

APA

Climate and Development Knowledge Network (2016). Gender approaches in climate compatible development: Lessons from Kenya. http://cdkn.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/CDKN_KenyaGenderReport_Pr3Final_WEB-1.pdf

Chicago

Climate and Development Knowledge Network. Gender approaches in climate compatible development: Lessons from Kenya. 2016. http://cdkn.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/CDKN_KenyaGenderReport_Pr3Final_WEB-1.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Climate and Development Knowledge Network |title=Gender approaches in climate compatible development: Lessons from Kenya |date=May 2016 |url=http://cdkn.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/CDKN_KenyaGenderReport_Pr3Final_WEB-1.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{climateanddevelopmentknowledgenetwork2016gender, author = {{Climate and Development Knowledge Network}}, title = {{Gender approaches in climate compatible development: Lessons from Kenya}}, institution = {Climate and Development Knowledge Network}, year = {2016}, month = may, url = {http://cdkn.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/CDKN_KenyaGenderReport_Pr3Final_WEB-1.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }