A study on Gender-responsive climate information provision in agrifood systems

Application deadline: 31st July 2024

GENDER (Generating Evidence and New Directions for Equitable Results) is a CGIAR impact platform that synthesizes and amplifies research, fills gaps, builds capacity and sets directions to enable CGIAR to have maximum impact on gender equality, opportunities for youth and social inclusion in agriculture and food systems.

Period: 15 July, 2024 to 1 December, 2024

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE OF THE ASSIGNMENT
The CGIAR Generating Evidence and New Directions for Equitable Results (GENDER) Platform aims to catalyze research on gender in agriculture and food systems to achieve more equitable, sustainable, productive and climate-resilient food systems. It aims to develop and promote high-quality evidence, knowledge, methods, tools, and alliances around gender that foster transformational change for inclusive and equitable food systems within planetary boundaries.

The Evidence Module of the Platform, led by the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), is designed to focus on synthesizing and sharing robust evidence, identifying and closing evidence gaps in the area of gender in agriculture and food systems. The module aims to use research-generated evidence around key themes to develop solutions and pathways to reduce gender inequalities within the dynamics of a changing food system.

Reliable and timely access to climate information services (CIS) and the ability to efficiently use the information can contribute greatly to mitigation and adaptation to climate change (Coulibaly et al. 2017; UNDP, 2019; Warner et al., 2022). While there is potential, experience reveals that CIS are still not accessible and usable by a large section of the farming population, particularly, women and farmers from vulnerable groups (McOmber et al., 2013) for decision-making. The structural inequalities limit women’s control over and access to resources and affect the way in which they experience the impacts of climate change (Bryan et al., 2024). Gender differences in access, needs, preferences, and uses of CIS are often overlooked in the design and delivery of these services (Ngigi and Muange, 2022; Bryan et al., 2024).

Women may need different channels and networks for information delivery and capacities to use and benefit from the information (Raj et al., 2020). And, not providing adequate attention to gender differences in accessibility and usability of climate information can exacerbate the climate change-related vulnerability of women in agrifood systems. Given this context, the Evidence Module aims to conduct a study focused on the accessibility and usability of climate information, provided through digital and non-digital means and their contribution to strengthening resilience and empowerment of women in agri-food systems in LMICs and identify where the challenges and opportunities lie for making them gender-responsive.

Specifically, we are interested in a synthesis and analysis of evidence and learnings from literature and case studies including:

Mapping of climate information provision in the agrifood systems in LMICs, focusing on the content, forms, channels of delivery and, providers.
Synthesis of literature (scoping/systematic review) on gendered access to and usability of climate information focusing on i) challenges faced by women farmers in accessing and using the information, ii) the needs of women farmers considered in the design and delivery of the services.
Case studies with a specific focus on i) design needs, ii) delivery mechanisms, iii) capacity building measures, and iv) lessons that can guide scalable interventions.
Synthesise of learnings/ best practices based on the mapping, review and case studies on gender-responsive climate information provision and its impact on women’s climate resilience, By undertaking this study, we aim to contribute to the evidence base on the intersection of climate information, gender, and agriculture, informing policy, practice, and future research endeavors to address this effectively.
We aim to engage a consultant or a partner organization with a prior experience of working in the area
of gender, climate information in agrifood systems to conduct this study in close consultation with the IRRI team.

Expected outputs and timeline

Deliverable – Due Date
1.Draft outline of the scoping/systematic review (with search terms, annotated bibliography) – July 25, 2024

2. A summary report synthesizing the information from the mapping of climate information services in the agrifood systems in LMICs – August 6, 2024

3. Selection of case studies/ design of guiding questions for case study analysis – August 12, 2024

4. A scoping review or a systematic review (if adequate literature is available) addressing the specific questions related to gendered access and usability of climate information services in agrifood systems – Draft report – August 30, 2024

5. A consultation workshop to identify the opportunities and challenges September 3, 2024 of gender-responsive climate information provision in the agrifood systems – [support in developing the concept note, participant list, and agenda of the workshop]

6. A consultation workshop report synthesising key findings from the discussions – September 27, 2024

7. Draft full Technical report – October 14, 2024

8. Blog/Evidence explainer – November 25, 2024

9.Final Technical Report (after incorporating feedback/suggestions) – November 20, 2024

10. Final financial report – November 29, 2024

Interested candidates are requested to submit an expression of interest including CVs, a 1 page cover letter indicating suitability of the background and experience, timeframe for intermediate outputs and a budget by 5 July, 2024 to Kritika Goel at k.goel@irri.org and Niyati Singaraju at n.singaraju@irri.org

References
Bryan, E., Alvi, M., Huyer, S., Ringler, C. 2024. Addressing gender inequalities and strengthening women’s
agency to create more climate-resilient and sustainable food systems. Global Food Security 40, 100731.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gfs.2023.100731 Coulibaly, J.Y., Birachi, E.A., Kagabo, D.M., Mutua, M., Hansen, J. 2017. Climate services for agriculture in Rwanda: What farmers know about climate information services in Rwanda. CCAFS Info Note.

Wageningen, Netherlands: CGIAR Research Program on Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security
(CCAFS).

McOmber, C., Panikowski, A., McKune, S., Bartels, W., Russo, S. 2013. Investigating climate information services through a gendered lens. CCAFS Working Paper no. 42. Copenhagen, Denmark: CGIAR Research Program on Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security (CCAFS).

Ngigi, M.W., Muange, E.N. 2022. Access to climate information services and climate-smart agriculture in Kenya: a gender-based analysis. Climatic Change 174, 21. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10584-022-03445-5

Raj, R., M, D., Bose, S., Ramalingam, S., Cas, B. 2020. Improving women’s access to climate information services and enhancing their capability to manage climate risks. APN Science Bulletin, 10(1). doi:10.30852/sb.2020.946
Warner, D., Moonsammy, S., Joseph, J. 2022. Factors that influence the use of climate information services for agriculture: A systematic review. Climate Services 28, 100336.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cliser.2022.100336

UNDP. 2019. Opportunities to empower women with enhanced access to climate information services
for transformative adaptation actions in Vietnam’s agricultural sectors. Technical Brief. Vietnam: UNDP.