The Role of Women and their Empowerment Options in Household and Community-Based Climate Change Adaptation and Disaster Risks Reduction in the Niger Delta Region, Nigeria

Abstract

This paper examined the role of women and their capacity building options in climate change adaptation and disaster risks reduction at the household and community levels in the ecological zones of the Niger Delta region of Nigeria using Delta State as a case study.  Data were collected using structured questionnaire in three selected Local Government Areas (LGAs) each from Mangrove Swamps, Freshwater Swamps and Lowland Rainforest. A total of 400 and 1200 respondents were randomly selected per LGA and ecological zone respectively. Data were analyzed using percentage. Findings revealed that dietary management, proper child care system and augmenting family income constituted important roles women play in household climate change adaptation and disaster risks reduction while mobilization, of women, educating other women/young girls and acting as change agents were key roles of women at the community level. While access to farm inputs, climate information, and training were key empowerment options for women to play leadership role in household climate change adaptation and disaster risks reduction, exposure to training, engaging women as trainers and mentoring were among key empowerment options for building leadership capacity of women at the community stratum. The paper concluded that the role of women and their empowerment options in household and community-based climate change and disaster risks reduction were largely the same in the study ecological zones. The study, therefore, recommended prioritization of identified key empowerment options toward building the capacity of women as significant stakeholders in climate change adaptation and disaster risks reduction in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria.