Women's rights in climate change: using video as a tool for empowerment in Nepal

Abstract

An innovative Action Aid-supplied project in Nepal has seen women's empowerment make rapid progress through the use of video discussions about climate change. In this exploration of the project, we ask what we can learn from the use of such technology, and consider the implications for international development agencies and their efforts to support women's rights.

Keywords:

• women's rights
• gender
• climate change
• power
• women and environment
• Nepal
• adaptation
• video

Notes

1. Participatory Vulnerability Analysis or PVA is an ongoing process of building awareness and understanding of why disasters occur and how they can be reduced. It is done by vulnerable communities themselves, together with their leaders and government, who do a joint analysis on problems, aggravating factors, strengths, and solutions. Mapping local hazards and identifying what makes a group vulnerable allows them to identify key issues and develop plans for follow-up action. The shared analysis and understanding of problems, solutions, and who is responsible allows communities to hold others to account while taking action on their own.

2. The initiative was proposed by Tamara Plush, an IDS Masters student in International Development: Participation, Power and Social Change, and one of the authors of this article. The study was implemented in collaboration with ActionAid Nepal, ActionAid International Emergencies and Conflict Team, IDS, Bheri Environmental Excellence (BEE Group), and the women's groups from Matehiya and Bageshwori.

3. BEE Group works in the Matehiya and Bageshwori VDCs. Participatory video workshop participants included members previously trained in disaster risk and reduction activities through the ActionAid Nepal's Disaster Risk and Reduction through Schools (DRRS) project.

4. Tamara Plush was the lead researcher and workshop facilitator in the participatory video action research project in Nepal.

5. In Matehiya VDC, the literacy rate among females is just 11.65 per cent (Gautam et al. 2007, 13).