Gender documentation for SAP026 Extended Community Climate Change Project-Drought (ECCCP-Drought)

The report assesses gender-based vulnerabilities in northwest Bangladesh to support the ECCCP-Drought project, which aims to benefit 215,000 people through water infrastructure and resilient agriculture. It identifies systemic barriers for women, including limited land ownership, wage discrimination in agricultural labor, and restricted mobility. The assessment highlights how drought exacerbates these issues, increasing food insecurity and the prevalence of early marriage. To address this, the project mandates that 50% of beneficiaries and Climate Change Adaptation Group (CCAG) members be women, while integrating gender-responsive measures into water management and agricultural activities.

• The ECCCP-Drought project aims to reduce vulnerabilities in northwest Bangladesh by involving 215,000 people with a budget of USD 29.99 million over four years. Key activities include re-excavating 300 ponds and 140 km of canals, installing 2,500 rooftop Managed Aquifer Recharge (MAR) systems, and promoting drought-resistant crops for 15,000 farmers.
• Women in the project areas face significant wage discrimination in agricultural labor, often earning substantially less than men for similar work. One focus group discussion revealed women earn between USD 1.17–1.76 (100–150 taka) per day, while men earn USD 2.93–3.5 (250–300 taka).
• Patriarchal norms severely limit women's access to and control over productive resources. Men typically own the land, and women in poor and marginalized groups often have no ownership of family property, which increases their vulnerability to climate change.
• Drought increases the vulnerability of women and girls by forcing them to travel longer distances to collect water as nearby sources dry up. This increased mobility exposes them to risks of 'eve teasing', sexual exploitation, and harassment.
• Climate-induced drought and associated poverty contribute to higher levels of gender-based violence and the practice of early marriage. Families may marry off daughters early to reduce household food expenditure and secure their future in the face of climatic vulnerabilities.
• Women's decision-making power in the household is highly limited, particularly regarding assets and agriculture. While they have high participation in food distribution (86.78%), their participation in decisions about selling agricultural production is only 6.88% and decisions on disaster preparedness/coping/adaptation is 11.48%.
• The project incorporates gender-responsive strategies by ensuring that 50% of the 215,000 direct beneficiaries and 50% of the members of the 600 Climate Change Adaptation Groups (CCAGs) are women.
• National policies in Bangladesh, such as the National Agriculture Policy 2018 and the Women’s Development Policy 2011, recognize women's roles in food security and advocate for equal wages, but they often lack specific analysis of the differentiated impacts of climate change on women versus men.

APA

Green Climate Fund (2023). Gender documentation for SAP026 Extended Community Climate Change Project-Drought (ECCCP-Drought). https://www.greenclimate.fund/sites/default/files/document/sap026-gender-assessment.pdf

Chicago

Green Climate Fund. Gender documentation for SAP026 Extended Community Climate Change Project-Drought (ECCCP-Drought). 2023. https://www.greenclimate.fund/sites/default/files/document/sap026-gender-assessment.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Green Climate Fund |title=Gender documentation for SAP026 Extended Community Climate Change Project-Drought (ECCCP-Drought) |date=13 July 2023 |url=https://www.greenclimate.fund/sites/default/files/document/sap026-gender-assessment.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{greenclimatefund2023gender, author = {{Green Climate Fund}}, title = {{Gender documentation for SAP026 Extended Community Climate Change Project-Drought (ECCCP-Drought)}}, institution = {Green Climate Fund}, year = {2023}, month = jul, url = {https://www.greenclimate.fund/sites/default/files/document/sap026-gender-assessment.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }