Sustainable Equality

Across the globe, labor markets are heavily influenced by gendered divides between wage employment and housework (see, for example, a recent working paper by Charles Gottlieb, Cheryl Doss, Douglas Gollin and Markus Poschke documenting this in detail). In low-income countries (LICs) across Sub-Saharan Africa, the latter often includes subsistence self-employment (predominately in agriculture) and unpaid work on a family farm and/or business, in addition to domestic services and care work that are common in other parts of the developing world. Women often find more opportunities in the public sector, which tends to offer greater stability, flexible hours, and social benefits, making it a feasible choice for those balancing work with family responsibilities. However, as public sector jobs in SSA are in high demand, they often require high levels of education that women might not have access to. This gender division of work underscores broader economic and social challenges, including access to education and financial resources, that impact women’s choices and the sectors they participate in. Overall, these more precarious economic conditions of women in LIC make them vulnerable to economic shocks, especially the extreme weather events that are now increasingly more common. 

Uganda Climate Change Workshop, which we co-organised in Kampala in June 2024 as part of the project funded by the ESRC Social Science Impact Accelerator Flexible Funding grant, emphasized the crucial role of both public and private sectors in tackling climate resilience. The panel discussions and the policy brief highlighted the need for gender-inclusive strategies that provide women with resources to lead community-based adaptation practices. With economic policies often prioritizing male-dominated private sector growth, public sector roles for women remain essential for fostering gender equality and addressing local development needs. Our policy brief suggests that by addressing the existing labor market structure, Uganda can better integrate women-led initiatives within its climate response, creating a balanced and inclusive approach to sustainable development.

You can find an executive summary of the workshop here and the policy note based on our findings here.

Relevant conferences and key updates

1. UN Climate Change Conference (COP29) – Baku, Azerbaijan (November 11-24, 2024): The COP29 conference is dedicated to discussions on climate change adaptation and mitigation, with a strong emphasis on gender-responsive policies. It aims to ensure that women and girls are included in climate adaptation plans and that climate finance supports gender equality. Gender Day, on November 21, will feature high-level events focusing on gender equality and transparency in climate action. The conference will also address just transitions away from fossil fuels and the equitable distribution of benefits, ensuring women are at the center of environmental solutions  .

2. Webinar on Gender, Climate Change, and Health – WHO HQ, Geneva, Switzerland (October 16, 2024): This webinar explored the intersection of gender, health, and climate change. It was part of a series aimed at building capacity for implementing climate health strategies at the national level. Discussions covered vulnerability assessments, adaptation strategies, and the importance of integrating gender into climate health policy, emphasizing how women in vulnerable communities are disproportionately affected by both climate and health challenges .