Gender Disparities in Coastal Livelihoods: Climate Risks, Income Gaps, and Adaptation Barriers in Rufiji Delta, Tanzania

Abstract

Men and women in the coastal communities of Tanzania are affected by climate change differently. This paper explored the role of gender in access to livelihoods and climate adaptation in the Rufiji Delta, one of the most ecologically diverse but vulnerable areas in the country. Based on the data of 368 men and women involved in fishing, processing and trading. Ecosystem-based adaptation (EBA) examined income patterns, climate risks and participation. The results show that there is an evident imbalance, with 91 percent of women experiencing losses of income due to flooding as opposed to 65 percent of men, and only 9 percent of women participated in adaptation processes such as mangrove restoration, as opposed to 22 percent of men. Men still hold higher paying jobs like boat ownership with an average salary of 120 dollars a month, which is more than three times the salary of women in the same position. Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) revealed that women are more vulnerable to climate shocks (β = 0.52) and this decreases their adaptive capacity (β = -0.26). Women are also limited in their involvement in adaptation by low income and absence of credit (β = -0.19). On the other hand, the availability of credit (odds ratio = 3.2) and education were the other factors that enhanced the probability of engaging in EBA. These findings indicate that there is a need to have inclusive policies that enable women to access resources, credit, and decision-making platforms to enable them to contribute equally to climate resilience in the coastal regions of Tanzania.