Interventions to mitigate climate change while enhancing farmers' adaptive capacity present an opportunity to make substantial improvements in the lives of rural men and women, while contributing to a more equitable rural society. Given that gender norms and climate change impacts are context-specific, these interventions must be tailored to each setting. This study uses survey data from Olopa, Guatemala, and Santa Rita, Honduras, to quantify the difference in empowerment between Climate Smart Village (CSV) participants and non-participants, the extent to which this varied between male and female farmers, and the consistency of the pattern across sites. The results provide compelling evidence that being a CSV participant is associated with modestly higher empowerment, as measured by the Gender Empowerment Index (GEI-CSV), with similar differences for both male and female farmers at both locations. Individual domains of empowerment show discernible differences between groups of farmers: male farmers in Olopa appeared to exhibit lower economic advancement than did either females from Olopa or farmers of either sex in Santa Rita. The findings underscore the importance of considering the specific needs of men and women when planning and implementing climate policies.
This study examines the relationship between the green transition and female employment in Rwanda's construction sector, influenced by sustainability policies such as the Green Building Code. Using a firm-level survey conducted in Kigali in 2024, we analyze data from 545 firms across the construction value chain, employing a Green Index to quantify firms' sustainability practices. The empirical analysis relies on OLS IV estimation to address potential endogeneity concerns. Our findings indicate a positive association between green practices and female employment shares, particularly in permanent roles, suggesting that sustainability-driven transformations can contribute to more equitable labor market outcomes. The study further highlights sectoral heterogeneity, with supplier and construction firms showing the strongest employment gains for women. Government initiatives enhance these effects, highlighting the importance of coherent policy frameworks. However, the role of managerial attitudes remains unclear, indicating a need for further research on organizational dynamics. The analysis also highlights disparities in access to green training, with female-managed firms less likely to receive training, potentially limiting their ability to benefit from green transitions. These findings provide insights for policymakers aiming to align green transition policies with gender-inclusive economic development in Rwanda and the broader context of Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA).
