Gendered Impacts of Climate Change and Women’s Adaptive Social Innovations in Rural and Peri-Urban Pakistan: Agency, Networks, and Resilience Outcomes
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.65761/jssp.2025.27Keywords:
Climate change adaptation, Gendered impacts, Women's agency, Social innovations, ResilienceAbstract
Background: Climate change disproportionately affects vulnerable populations, with women in rural and peri-urban Pakistan facing increased risks due to social, economic, and gender inequalities. Although women contribute to community-based adaptation and resilience, evidence on the role of their social innovations and agency remains limited.
Objective: To investigate the gendered impacts of climate change and examine how women’s adaptive social innovations, social networks, and agency influence household resilience in climate-vulnerable communities in Pakistan.
Methods: A mixed-methods cross-sectional study was conducted among 462 women recruited through purposive and snowball sampling from climate-vulnerable communities. Quantitative data were collected using structured questionnaires, while qualitative data were obtained through 22 in-depth interviews with women leaders, innovators, and NGO representatives. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, multiple regression, path analysis, and thematic analysis.
Results: High exposure to floods (78.4%), heatwaves (72.1%), and droughts (61.5%) was reported. Knowledge-sharing networks (61.9%) and collective savings groups (55.8%) were the most common adaptive strategies. Women’s agency (β=0.34), social networks (β=0.29), education (β=0.18), and asset ownership (β=0.21) were significant predictors of household resilience (all p<0.001). Path analysis showed that stronger social networks promoted adaptive innovations, enhanced women’s agency, and improved resilience. Financial constraints, restrictive gender norms, and limited institutional support remained major barriers.
Conclusion: Women play a central role in climate adaptation through social innovation and collective action. Gender-responsive policies that strengthen women’s agency, resources, and participation are essential for enhancing resilience and sustainable development in climate-vulnerable regions of Pakistan.
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