Incorporating gender into low-emission development: a case study from Vietnam

Abstract

Reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from agriculture is needed to meet global climate policy targets. A number of low-emission development (LED) options exist in agriculture, which globally emits 10–12% of GHG emissions. In paddy rice production, alternative wetting and drying (AWD) can reduce emissions by up to 48%. Co-benefits of AWD include lower water consumption, lower use of fertilizer and seeds, and higher resistance to some pests and diseases. These are expected to result in improved benefits for individual farmers while lowering the sector’s overall contribution to GHG emissions. Women are strongly involved in rice production, hence improving their access to AWD technology, participation in decisions about it, and capacity to use it influences AWD adoption and resulting emissions. Involving women in AWD and LED more broadly also can provide distributional and procedural justice gains for women. The authors develop a conceptual model to show how these issues can be integrated. They suggest that intermediary organizations such as farmer associations and women’s organizations are central to enabling women to realize their personal goals while allowing gender to be taken to scale in LED, as is the case for other technology interventions. This requires work to expand their social capacities. A case study developed from work on taking gender-responsive LED to scale in the Mekong Delta, Vietnam, illustrates the model.

Keywords:

• Low-emission development
• alternate wetting and drying
• gender
• rice
• Vietnam

Acknowledgements

This work was implemented as part of the CGIAR Research Program on Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security (CCAFS) with support from CGIAR Fund Donors and through bilateral funding agreements.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Cathy Rozel Farnworth

Cathy Rozel Farnworth holds a PhD from the University of Agricultural Sciences in Sweden. She has a strong theoretical and practical background on gender issues in agriculture, value chains and climate change. She has twenty years of experience worldwide working for multi-lateral and bilateral agencies, research institutions and NGOs.

Trần Thu Hà

Trãn Thu Hà was a Project Director for the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF). She played a leading role in the pioneering project – GHG Emissions Reduction in Rice Production in the Mekong Delta. Thu Hà is now (since July 2016) Team Leader for the AgResults Vietnam Emissions Reduction Pilot.

Björn Ole Sander

Björn Ole Sander is a scientist in IRRI’s climate change research group with a focus on greenhouse gas (GHG) mitigation technologies. As climate change specialist, Ole analyzes the GHG balance of different cropping systems in Vietnam and the Philippines, and evaluates mitigation options through water, fertilizer, and crop residue management.

Eva Wollenberg

Eva Wollenberg works with CGIAR centers and partners to inform developing countries and the global policy community about options to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and increase carbon sequestration from agriculture while achieving food security and to support implementation of low emissions agricultural practices and policies at large scales.

Nicoline C. de Haan

Nicoline C. de Haan is a senior social science researcher and leader of the gender team at International Livestock Research Institute. She has over 15 years of expertise in gender, rural livelihoods, and natural resource management. Presently, she is responsible for developing innovative research on gender and livestock for equitable development.

Shawn McGuire

Shawn McGuire is an Agricultural Officer in FAO, responsible for promoting seed security, bridging emergency responses with development activities to help farmers access the seed and planting materials they desire. Previously he was Senior Lecturer in Natural Resources, in the School of International Development, University of East Anglia (Norwich, UK).