‘Gender lens’: the approach that low-carbon businesses cannot do without

This policy brief outlines how small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in developing countries can use a 'gender lens'—business models and operations that promote women's economic empowerment—to enhance the sustainability and climate impact of low-carbon technologies. Drawing on the Gender Equality in a Low Carbon World (GLOW) programme (2021–24), the document provides evidence from Africa and Latin America showing that addressing gender-specific barriers in sectors like aquaculture and agriculture leads to improved productivity, increased revenues, and better market access.

• A 'gender lens' approach involves business structures and policies that identify and reduce barriers women face, enable women to lead as entrepreneurs, ensure decent work, and make private sector benefits meaningful to women.
• In Kenya, applying a gender lens to Integrated Multi-Trophic Aquaculture (IMTA) for seaweeds and finfish has improved business results by leveraging the different roles and skills of men and women, specifically integrating women's traditional roles in processing and marketing.
• The Kenyan enterprise Aquarech Ltd uses a digital app for caged fish production to empower women farmers and traders. This approach increases supply reliability and repayment rates for credit, while reducing women traders' vulnerability to 'fish for sex' norms by allowing them to procure fish formally.
• In Nicaragua, a cocoa exporter used gender-responsive training and a tracking app to help smallholder farmers demonstrate compliance with European Union traceability laws effective from 2025, which is essential for maintaining international market access.
• Adopting solar PV power for irrigation in Senegal has increased agricultural income for women horticulturalists by more than 200,000 FCFA ($335) and reduced irrigation costs by approximately 125,000 FCFA ($209), while reducing daily irrigation time from 7.70 to 7.03 hours.
• In Rwanda, the social enterprise Green Harvest facilitated access to finance and hydroponic technology for women and youth. Hydroponics can produce up to 500 tons of crops per hectare, using 90% less water than traditional methods with 30–50% faster growth.
• Business advisory body Intellecap supported eight East African SMEs to apply a gender lens, leading to 71% of them attracting impact investors and raising a total of US$1.8 million over three years. One company, Griincom Kenya, expects a 30% increase in product uptake through a last-mile delivery plan employing female sales agents.
• Public sector investment, such as low-interest loans and direct subsidies provided to the Tangama Market Gardening Union in Guinea, is critical for lowering financial barriers for women entering solar PV-irrigated agriculture.

APA

Yadav, K., Dupar, M., Onyango, J., Achieng, G. F., Cisse, M., Tall, L., & de Sanfeliu, M. B. (2024). ‘Gender lens’: the approach that low-carbon businesses cannot do without. Climate and Development Knowledge Network. https://cdkn.org/sites/default/files/2024-12/GLOW_%20Gender%20lens%20for%20low%20carbon%20business%20%282024%29.pdf

Chicago

Yadav, Karnika, Mairi Dupar, Joel Onyango, Gillian Faith Achieng, Marame Cisse, Laure Tall, and Margarita Beneke de Sanfeliu. ‘Gender lens’: the approach that low-carbon businesses cannot do without. Climate and Development Knowledge Network, 2024. https://cdkn.org/sites/default/files/2024-12/GLOW_%20Gender%20lens%20for%20low%20carbon%20business%20%282024%29.pdf.

Wikipedia

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BibTeX

@techreport{yadav2024gender, author = {Yadav, Karnika and Dupar, Mairi and Onyango, Joel and Achieng, Gillian Faith and Cisse, Marame and Tall, Laure and de Sanfeliu, Margarita Beneke}, title = {{‘Gender lens’: the approach that low-carbon businesses cannot do without}}, institution = {Climate and Development Knowledge Network}, year = {2024}, url = {https://cdkn.org/sites/default/files/2024-12/GLOW_%20Gender%20lens%20for%20low%20carbon%20business%20%282024%29.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }