Empowering Communities: Gender-Responsive Nature-based Solutions for Climate Adaptation in the Guinean Forests

“Nature sustains us, yet we face challenges from pests and unpredictable weather that affect our livelihoods. We often find ourselves uncertain about how to adapt and when to take action.” 

– Explains N Guessan Aya Ella Roseline, member of the Divo region in Côte d’Ivoire and one of the local women contributing to the NbS project.

In today’s world, the urgency to address climate change and environmental degradation is undeniable. The Guinean Forests of West Africa are facing serious climate challenges, with decreasing rainfall, reduced river flows, and more and more frequent droughts and heat waves. These changes are causing declining agricultural productivity, rising migration pressures, and unequal impacts on women and men. Women, who are often responsible for securing food, water, and generating income for their households, are hit particularly hard as they struggle with limited resources. This increased burden further limits their opportunities for education, economic empowerment, and participation in decision-making processes. Amidst these challenges, our Nature-based Solutions (NbS) project, in partnership with CECI, with support from Global Affairs Canada (GAC), offers an approach that leverages local indigenous knowledge.

Understanding Nature-Based Solutions and Building on Research 

Nature-based solutions leverage natural ecosystems and processes to help communities adapt to climate change while offering co-benefits for biodiversity and human livelihoods. Examples include agroforestry, afforestation, reforestation, and Assisted Natural Regeneration (ANR). These restoration approaches absorb and store large amounts of carbon dioxide, increase community resilience, and contribute to biodiversity restoration, climate change mitigation, and adaptation. By also focusing on the social and economic aspects of adaptation, NbS ensures that solutions are derived from local communities, making them both ecologically and economically sustainable.

Building on this, we are pleased to share the publication of our technical research report on gender-responsive nature-based solutions for climate adaptation “Technical Background Paper: Nature-based Solutions for Climate Adaptation in the Guinean Forests of West Africa”. This document summarizes research conducted during the project’s inception planning in 2023, including a baseline study, gender analysis, and climate vulnerability analysis. The research was conducted across three landscapes in Ghana, Guinea, and Côte d’Ivoire. Authored by Professor Chris Huggins from the University of Ottawa, based on research and consultations led by a wide range of project stakeholders and local partners, the report draws upon contributions from various local stakeholders.

Read the Technical Paper here

Promoting Gender-responsive and Inclusive Nature-based Solutions

The NbS project focuses on promoting gender-responsive and inclusive nature-based solutions for climate change adaptation in the Guinean forest regions of Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, and Guinea. It also seeks to advance women’s rights and reduce gender inequalities in accessing and controlling resources and development benefits. 

Nature-based solutions are rooted in the idea that the best solutions to our biggest challenges can often be found in nature itself. The NbS project reflects WUSC and CECI’s deep commitment to this philosophy. By leveraging natural ecosystems and processes, we’re not just mitigating the impacts of climate change. We’re actively working to facilitate resilient opportunities for communities to thrive. The project’s foundation lies in the belief that nature can be protected and restored while also contributing to women’s livelihoods. Whether it’s restoring forests, protecting watersheds, or fostering sustainable agriculture, this project is about more than environmental conservation, it’s about building a future where people and nature coexist in harmony. The NbS project harnesses nature for transformative change, and is attempting to show  that environmental investments lead to long-term community benefits. By integrating a market systems approach, it promotes  solutions that are both ecologically and economically sustainable.

Using a Market System Approach to Drive Inclusive, Environmental and Sustainable Change.

The NbS project takes a multi-faceted approach which addresses the root causes of the challenges faced by communities while co-existing with nature and engages a wide range of stakeholders from local to regional. The inclusive market systems (IMS) approach is implemented through:

1. Cultivating evidence, and
2. Consulting women and marginalized groups to prioritize locally relevant nature-based solutions that enhance biodiversity and promote gender equality.

The project achieves this by supporting the planning, piloting, and scaling of gender-responsive and inclusive nature-based solutions for climate change adaptation.

1.  Centring Women’s Leadership in Climate Adaptation
   The project focuses on enhancing women’s leadership and fostering gender-transformative, evidence-based, nature-based climate adaptation planning within six landscapes across Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, and Guinea. By engaging public, private, and non-profit organizations, as well as women’s groups, we work so that everyone has a voice in shaping a better future. The project also supports women’s organizations to influence and actively participate in these processes.
2. Increasing Investments in Nature-based Solutions
   While Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, and Guinea have prioritized climate finance, private sector investments in adaptation have been limited. That’s where the NbS project steps in, connecting key partners to fund initiatives like Innovation Funds. We’re focusing on women’s business potential, including the commercialization of forest and non-timber products, to create lasting economic opportunities.
3. Increasing Gender-Responsive Restoration of Degraded Forests and Key Habitats
   Forest restoration is a cornerstone of the project. By investing directly in restoring degraded forests and critical ecosystems, The NbS project will not only improve income for women and communities but also will enhance biodiversity and mitigate climate change through carbon sequestration.  

Meet our Implementing Partners 

The NbS project is made possible through the collaboration of several key partners, each bringing their unique expertise to the table, along with a wide network of local governments, civil society organizations, and private sector partners:

• ABANTU FOR DEVELOPMENT focuses on gender and social inclusion, making sure that the benefits of the project reach every member of the community, particularly women and marginalized groups.
• CIFOR-ICRAF (Center for International Forestry Research – World Agroforestry) provides invaluable insights into sustainable land management and agroforestry.
• IBOL (International Barcode of Life) plays an important role in biodiversity conservation, helping us monitor and protect ecosystems.
• IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) offers expertise in conservation best practices, ensuring that our efforts are grounded in science.

Want to see how this works in action? Watch this video to discover how the NbS project is making a difference on the ground.