Abstract

Over two million families whose livelihoods depend on cacao farming in West Africa need to adapt to a changing climate. Cacao is perceived as a male crop and women are often marginalized from access to livelihood assets, such as financial resources, necessary for climate resilience.

In the contexts of Ivory Coast, Ghana, and Liberia, we assess whether improvements in gender equality conditions support the capacity of cacao farming-dependent households to cope with extreme drought. Our scientific contributions include the generation of robust empirical evidence of gender equality-climate resilience effects, and on the conceptual development of 'Socio-ecological Livelihoods' as an analytical framework. Results will be derived from quantitative and qualitative analyses of multi-year household survey and in-depth interview data, and interpreted through a stakeholder participatory process. Implications will have direct relevance in the design of gender-based development interventions that aim to advance climate resiliency, taking into consideration complex interactions among livelihood assets and the natural environment. We target dissemination of findings to local communities, practitioners, scholars, and national and international policy makers. It aims to raise awareness and create a pathway for positive change to benefit cacao-dependent households around the world