Gender approaches in climate compatible development: Lessons from Kenya

The report examines how gender relations influence vulnerability to climate risks in urban Kisumu, Kenya. Using the People’s Plans into Practice (PPP) project (2008–2013) as a case study, it finds that while gender-sensitive programming—such as participatory design of water and sanitation facilities—can improve outcomes and empower women, deep-seated cultural biases and structural barriers like male-dominated land ownership persist. The study argues that for climate compatible development to be effective, it must move beyond 'gender-blind' or 'gender-aware' approaches toward 'gender-transformative' strategies that address the root causes of vulnerability and are supported by coordinated county-level policies.

• Gender relations significantly determine vulnerability to climate risks in urban Kisumu, where 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 equal representation of men and women in committees and adapting technology to specific needs, such as designing toilets for women with sanitary towel bins and enhanced security features.
• Women in Kisumu's informal settlements face specific climate-related burdens, including increased time spent collecting water due to scarcity and higher prices, and higher vulnerability to job losses in fish-processing factories when stocks decline.
• Structural and cultural barriers hinder gender equality in climate interventions; specifically, male-dominated land ownership prevents women from making decisions on improved housing without male consent.
• While Kenya has a supportive national policy environment, including the 2010 Constitution and the 'two thirds gender rule', these are often ignored or downplayed at the local city and ward levels of governance.
• Market-based approaches and the formation of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in waste management provide opportunities for women and youth to build resilience and take on non-traditional roles in finance and management.
• Gender-sensitive approaches improve climate compatible development outcomes by increasing planning flexibility and responding to gender-based drivers of vulnerability, but they require continuous dialogue and coordination between county departments, which is currently non-existent.

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} }