Challenges in Mainstreaming Gender When Designing Climate Relief Initiatives

Background. Pakistan ranked 10th for climate disaster impact and 178th in gender development. Women are notably marginalized, particularly during climate crises. The 2021-2022 catastrophic floods affected primarily women and children, yet their short- and long-term needs were often ignored in disaster responses, which was partially due to the lack of women's participation in the response design process. This study investigates the challenges associated with promoting women’s agency in development projects and explores strategies for effective gender mainstreaming in climate relief initiatives.

Method. Six months after the floods in Balochistan—a region noted for high domestic violence rates and low employment—we carried out a mixed-methods study. It involved in-depth interviews with local women leaders, focus group discussions across various genders and age groups, and a survey to evaluate disaster relief, women's needs, and their participation in the relief efforts. Qualitative discussions addressed the gender differences in decision-making processes within households and communities, the leadership roles of women in development programs, and the opportunities and challenges in promoting gender equality. The quantitative survey measured women's agency and asset ownership.

Results. Thirty-two focus groups were conducted in eight villages, engaging over 200 participants. The findings indicate that most women perceived the support from local authorities and NGOs as inadequate and non-sustaining. While NGOs appointed some women as community leaders, their influence was minimal and often eclipsed by male counterparts. Major barriers to participation were domestic responsibilities, male resistance, and financial dependence. Quantitative data collected from three hundred families revealed that men largely dominated economic decisions, such as land purchases and relocations, with less than 10% consulting their spouses. Furthermore, women were responsible for decisions regarding children's matters in only half of the cases. The level of education and asset ownership among the women was exceedingly low; for instance, only six women owned cell phones. Regarding participation in public events, almost all women reported voting, one of the few public activities they engaged in. However, as the qualitative data suggest, voting in their villages was often compromised by politicians who used gifts to influence support.

Conclusions and Implications. The results indicated that women's disempowerment in male- dominated communities, highlighting the significant gender imbalance in decision-making dynamics. The participation of women in public events was often superficial and overshadowed by men. International bodies have attempted to include women in program design, but entrenched gender inequality hampers their decision-making capacity. Beyond tokenistic approaches, there is a crucial need for NGOs and governments to fortify foundational gender equality—enhancing women’s education, solidifying laws to safeguard women’s rights, and nurturing women’s leadership abilities in development projects.