Project profile

Enhancing adaptive capacity of women and ethnic minority smallholder farmers through improved Agro-Climate Information Systems in South-East Asia (ACIS)

Climate change is now happening across the globe. It impacts communities all over South-East Asia and endangers the productivity and viability of people’s livelihoods. Severe weather events such as storms and floods are increasing in intensity. Long-term changes to ‘normal’ conditions, such as rising sea levels, shifting rainfall seasons, altered crop patterns and long dry periods are gradually undermining livelihoods. Climate change puts resources under pressure and undermines nationwide efforts on poverty reduction and socio-economic development.

Climate shocks and stresses have particular adverse impact on the poorest and ethnic minorities. They are not only exposed to climate risks but also have limited capacity to respond to climate change due to geographical remoteness and socio-economic factors, including limited access to services. Climate change is also not gender-neutral nor gender-blind; issues such as women’s workloads, their limited decision-making power in the household and public spheres and unequal access to and control over resources can prevent women and men from adopting effective strategies to adapt to a changing climate.

Accessing downscaled and actionable agro-climate information is considered an important service to improve adaptive capacity of poor women and ethnic minority farmers.

Objective

To enhance the adaptive capacity of women and ethnic minority (W&EM) farmers to better anticipate and respond to risks and opportunities from climatic variability and to increase capacity of government authorities to produce and deliver timely and accurate demand-driven agro-climate information services to smallholder farmers.

Key activities

Project activities include:

Research protocol for developing ACIS including data analysis
Needs-based action-oriented capacity development program providing evidence on adaptation of ACIS
Tried and tested agro-climate advisory products
Establish and support Farmer Learning Network and ensure farmers are actively demanding and seeking agro-climate information
Recommendations for developing evidence and knowledge products on effectiveness and impact of equitable ACIS