Women’s engagement in flood hazard adaptation in Nepal

This study presents an in-depth analysis of women’s engagement in flood hazard adaptations in Arnuwa village, one of the frequently flood-affected areas of the lower Karnali river basin in Nepal. In specific, it examines the socio-cultural status of women who are at risk of flood, their engagement in adaptation actions, and the relations between the socio-cultural status and the engagement in adaptation actions. An individual questionnaire survey with the female members from the flood-affected households was carried out to explore the socio-cultural status and the engagement in adaptation actions. In addition, four key informant interviews and a group discussion were conducted to further get into the local context and the reasons behind the adaptation actions and, also to explore the relations between socio-cultural aspects and the adaptation actions. Descriptive statistics were applied to analyze the numerical data. The answers from key informant interviews and group discussions were transcribed and used to further explain the findings and to justify the reasons behind the relations between the variables like the socio-cultural status of women and their engagement in adaptation actions. The result related to the socio-cultural status of women in Arnuwa shows that the people in the village belong to the three different castes – Hill Brahmin/Chhetri, Terai Janajati, and Terai Dalit. The education level of the women is quite low as many of the women are illiterate. Around half of the respondents were household heads. The respondents have experienced at least two floods in the last ten years. The major effects of the floods were the loss of crops in the field, damage to the houses, and loss of food items inside the house. The early warning system had encouraged them to take adaptation actions and the siren is the main one. The women have engaged themselves at least in two types of adaptation actions related to flood hazards. Caste is one of the main socio-cultural aspects of the study area shaping the engagement of women in flood hazard adaptation practices. In the caste-wise engagement analysis, there are differences between the Terai Janajatis and the other two castes (Hill Brahmin/Chhetri and Terai Dalits). In the five categories of adaptation actions, Terai Janajatis has the highest level of engagement in physical, ecosystem-based, social, and institutional adaptation actions followed by Hill Brahmin/Chhetri. Dalit on average has the lowest level of engagement in many adaptation actions. Out of a total of twenty adaptation practices, Terai Janajatis have a higher level of engagement in fourteen actions. Likewise, the women with upper education levels were found with a higher level of engagement i.e., twelve adaptation practices out of a total of twenty. Similarly, the women who are leading the household were found leading their engagement in thirteen adaptation actions.

GE4-304