Exploring New Pathways to Gender Equality in Education: Does Information and Communication Technology Matter?

Through the use of the System Generalized Method of Moments Technique, this study aims to establish links between Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs), gender equality in education and economic growth, for segregated levels of education. The study focuses on the decade of 2000-2010 for the case of Lower Middle Income countries. Through simultaneous solution of the models, it is concluded that ICTs do have some potential to promote gender equality but the relationship is not strong enough, either due to lack of relevant statistical data or due to inefficient integration of ICTs into the society. It is, however, deduced that the strongest factor promoting gender equality is the average schooling of adult population. Furthermore, the study finds out that for lower middle income countries, gender equality at lower levels of education plays an important role in economic growth than gender equality in higher education

Do natural disasters change savings and employment choices? Evidence from Pakistan

We investigate the economic response of rural households to natural disasters in Pakistan. In particular, we explore to what extent households adjust their savings, and income strategies in response to floods. Using a detailed panel dataset that was assembled concurrently with two major flood events, we find evidence of an economic response, although adjustments appear to be temporary: affected farmers move away from agriculture as an immediate response to floods, but they return within a year. Although flood exposure lowers savings, adjustments in income strategies help farmers to overcome immediate losses and initiate recovery: flood affected households allocate a significantly higher portion of their post-flood income than unaffected households to replenishing livestock and seeds. The findings have policy implications in terms of strategies to develop nonfarm employment opportunities and financing economic migration to reduce income vulnerability

A qualitative comparative analysis of women’s agency and adaptive capacity in climate change hotspots in Asia and Africa

There is growing concern about sustainable and equitable adaptation in climate change hotspots, commonly understood as locations that concentrate high climatic variability, societal vulnerability, and negative impacts on livelihood systems. Emphasizing gender within these debates highlights how demographic, socio-economic and agro-ecological contexts mediate the experiences and outcomes of climate change. Drawing on data from 25 qualitative case studies across three hotspots in Africa and Asia, analysed using Qualitative Comparative Analysis, we show how and in what ways women’s agency, or the ability to make meaningful choices and strategic decisions, contributes to adaptation responses. We find that environmental stress is a key depressor of women’s agency even when household structures and social norms are supportive, or legal entitlements available. These findings have implications for the effective implementation of multilateral agreements such as the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, Sendai Framework on Disaster Risk Reduction, and the Sustainable Development Goals

Migration futures in Asia and Africa : economic opportunities and distributional effects : the case of Pakistan

Declining agricultural yields and diminishing livelihood prospects due to climate change may motivate people to move households in search of better opportunities. This study applies two types of analyses: (i) a livelihood resilience approach: by constructing a resilience index for migrant and non-migrant households, and (ii) a case study approach for each study site, towards better understanding of factors that drive out-migration from rural areas; the social impacts of male out-migration on left-behind families; and the profile of current and potential migrants among households. This report is part of a long-term research agenda that guides Pathways to Resilience in Semi-arid Economies (PRISE).UK Government’s Department for International Development (DfID)International Development Research Centre (IDRC

What defines livelihood vulnerability in rural semi‑arid areas? : evidence from Pakistan

In view of the enhanced vulnerability of semi-arid regions to climate change (IPCC AR5 Climate Change 2014: Mitigation of Climate Change) this paper attempts to identify the key determinants of vulnerability in three semi-arid districts of Pakistan using an indicator-based approach. Semi-arid lands in Pakistan predominantly feature irrigated agriculture. Results of IPCC–LVI show varying levels of vulnerability experienced by farmers in the three study sites. This paper uses the IPCC-Livelihood Vulnerability Index for developing site-specific vulnerability scores that portray the unique aspects that determine districts’ vulnerability to climate change such as water supply, access to information, rural poverty, health, education and genderUK's Department for International Development (DFID

Private adaptation in semi-arid lands: a tailored approach to ‘leave no one behind’

Globally, semi-arid lands (SALs) are home to approximately one billion people, including some of the poorest and least food secure. These regions will be among the hardest hit by the impacts of climate change. This article urges governments and their development partners to put SAL inhabitants and their activities at the heart of efforts to support adaptation and climate resilient development, identifying opportunities to capitalise on the knowledge, institutions, resources and practices of SAL populations in adaptation action

Research for climate - resilient futures

This review discusses the concept of human capital as well as the mechanism for resilience building in the context of risks introduced by climate change in semi-arid regions. The review identifies certain policy gaps that suggest that the development paradigm of Pathways to Resilience in Semi-Arid Economies (PRISE) countries needs to alter and consider climate change as more of a development issue rather than environment alone. More investment should be directed towards data documentation regarding climate induced migration. Conceptual frameworks need to be established towards understanding how health and education endowments can be used to enhance climate resilience.UK Government’s Department for International Development (DfID

Road to climate resilience : migration as an adaptation strategy

The findings of this research call for better management of the migration process, especially with regards to internal migration. For Pakistan, climate change is a reality that impacts lives and livelihoods adversely. Pakistani authorities have not yet recognized planned migration as an adaptation strategy, unlike other countries such as Bangladesh and Kenya that have integrated internal migration into their adaptation planning. This policy brief advocates for viewing rural to urban migration positively, as a livelihood resilience-enhancing strategy, rather than as a detriment to development.UK Government’s Department for International Development (DfID)International Development Research Centre (IDRC

Exploring New Pathways to Gender Equality in Education: Does Information and Communication Technology Matter?

Through the use of the System Generalized Method of Moments Technique, this study aims to establish links between Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs), gender equality in education and economic growth, for segregated levels of education. The study focuses on the decade of 2000-2010 for the case of Lower Middle Income countries. Through simultaneous solution of the models, it is concluded that ICTs do have some potential to promote gender equality but the relationship is not strong enough, either due to lack of relevant statistical data or due to inefficient integration of ICTs into the society. It is, however, deduced that the strongest factor promoting gender equality is the average schooling of adult population. Furthermore, the study finds out that for lower middle income countries, gender equality at lower levels of education plays an important role in economic growth than gender equality in higher education

CARIAA Working Paper no. 158

This study discusses the socio-economic, cultural, religious and institutional factors that sustain abuse of women. A qualitative approach has been adopted to understand the power-dynamics that prevail at different levels of society in order to draw out perspectives from a wide variety of stakeholders. The locale of the study is the provinces of Punjab (Lahore, Multan, and Khanewal) and Sindh (Karachi, Sukkur, and Hyderabad). The study shows that women face direct, cultural and structural violence through a deeply entrenched system of patriarchy at all tiers of public and private life. The most fundamental challenge women are faced with in Pakistan is violence