Challenges of Women Adaptation to the Impact of Climate Change in Tanzania: Case of Same District

Abstract

The impact of climate change is more serious in semi-arid and ‘drought-prone’ areas where there are significant risks from climate change including shortage of water, rise in mean temperature and changes in precipitation. However, there is unclear information on how women adapt climate changes in semi-arid areas. The study on challenges of women’s adaptation to the impacts of climate change was conducted in Same District, Kilimanjaro Region. The study employed documentary review as secondary source; questionnaires and interviews to obtain primary information from 100 respondents. The simple random technique was employed to obtain 10% of the women from Mwembe and Bangalala villages. Descriptive analysis was used to analyze data. Results showed that 75% of women engage in small scale business as their adaptation strategy to climate change. However, efforts to adapt effects of climate change was obstructed by inadequate production tools, lack of inputs, lack of capital, lack of formal markets, lack of knowledge in improved production. Thus, the Government of Tanzania through the ministry responsible for women affairs and natural resources conservation should strengthen women’s ability to adapt climate change.