Climate Resilience Index: Gender Resilience Analysis of Climate Change Induced-Shocks in Redd+ Piloted Site, Cross River State, Nigeria

Abstract

Climate change is real all over the world, and hence the vulnerability and resilience capacity for gender in relation to REDD+ Cancun Safeguard “d” must be assessed. This study assessed genders’ resilience to climate change-induced shocks in REDD+ piloted site, Cross River, Nigeria. Data were collected through quantitative (200 questionnaires) using Cochran allocation formula and qualitative (Focus Group Discussion and Key informant interview) approaches. The respondents were classified as Male and Female. The Climate Resilience Index (CRI) and Livelihood Resilience Index (LRI) based on the three-resilience capacities absorptive, adaptive and transformative, were used to measure genders’ resilience to climate change impacts. Findings indicate that the CRI and the resilience capacities scores of major components clearly differentiated genders along role, responsibilities and forest usage. Unambiguously, LRI score showed that transformative capacity (0.458) leads the contributing factor to resilience for male followed by adaptive (0.431) for female and absorptive (0.240) for male capacities. Similarly, male was relatively more resilient with a mean index value of 0.376. The study also shows that access to and ownership and use of livelihood resources were major elements of genders’ resilience in ithe study area. In general, low resilience recorded by Female might be due to exposure to recurrent shocks, poor access to infrastructure, poor livelihood diversification practices, limited adaptive capacities, e.t.c. Gender resilience capacity was minimal with a mean score of 0. 353.