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Exploring how gender intersects resilience in the face of chronic uncertainty in the drylands
Author
Ash, R
Wario, H
Wachira, J
Hassan, R
Guracha, D
Publisher
XII International Rangeland Congress
Publication Year
2025
Body

Resilience strategies in African pastoral systems face increasing scrutiny, particularly in the context of climate shocks. This article explores gender dynamics in the generation of resilience in a dryland socio-ecological system and amongst pastoralist communities in Moyale, Northern Kenya. The findings challenge existing assumptions of women's adaptive capacity and traditional gender roles, highlighting women's nuanced understanding of household needs and their ability to innovate during crises through strategies such as community savings groups, fodder production, and diversification. Men's resilience, traditionally linked to livestock mobility and herd management, is undermined by recurring droughts, with psychological stress emerging as a key concern. Youth face barriers in translating educational aspirations into sustainable livelihoods, emphasizing the need for inclusive resilience-building interventions. Together, these results demonstrate the need for a gender-sensitive approach to resilience that emphasizes local constructs of adaptive capacity and the need to support relational forms of resilience in ways that bridge social, ecological, and cultural systems.

Language
English
Resource Type
Text
Document Type
Conference Proceedings
Additional Information
This paper is part of the larger XII International Rangelands Congress Proceedings. Page Numbers: 89-95. Theme: Theme 1 / Informed policy & governance + women empowerment and leadership in rangelands
ISSN
978-0-646-72121-7
Conference Name
International Rangeland Congress
Collection
International Rangelands Congress
Keywords
pastoralism
drylands
resilience
climate crises
gender