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

The brief presents evidence from the Gender Equality in a Low Carbon World (GLOW) programme, demonstrating that integrating gender-responsive policies and women's empowerment into business models enhances the productivity and viability of climate-smart SMEs. It highlights specific successes in aquaculture, hydroponics, and solar irrigation across Africa and Latin America, while urging impact investors and public financiers to adopt gender-lens investment strategies to unlock untapped markets and improve social equity.

• A 'gender lens' approach involves business structures and policies that identify and reduce barriers for women, enable them as leaders and entrepreneurs, and ensure they secure decent work and meaningful benefits from private sector entities.
• In Kenya, applying a gender lens to Integrated Multi-Trophic Aquaculture (IMTA) for seaweeds and finfish has improved business results by leveraging the distinct roles and skills of women and men, specifically integrating women's traditional strengths in processing and marketing.
• The use of digital technology in Kenyan aquaculture, such as the Aquarech app, empowers women by increasing supply reliability through contracted women farmers and protecting women traders from 'fish for sex' norms by allowing them to procure fish formally.
• Gender-responsive training and technology for smallholders in Nicaragua is critical for maintaining access to the European Union market, as new laws from 2025 require firms to demonstrate the environmental integrity and traceability of imports.
• In Senegal, the adoption of solar PV power for irrigation has significantly increased the agricultural income of women horticulturalists by more than 200,000 FCFA ($335) and reduced irrigation costs by approximately 125,000 FCFA ($209).
• Hydroponic systems in Rwanda, facilitated for women and youth by the social enterprise Green Harvest, can produce up to 500 tons of crops per hectare and use 90% less water than traditional farming methods.
• Gender-lens marketing and delivery strategies in East Africa, such as Griincom Kenya's use of female sales agents for organic fertilisers, are projected to increase product uptake by 30% within a year.
• Public sector support, including low-interest loans and direct subsidies, is a crucial accelerator for women's entry into low-carbon sectors, as evidenced by the Tangama Market Gardening Union in Guinea.

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} }