Transformative, Participatory Approaches to Gender, Climate Change and Sustainable Livelihoods in India

Abstract

In Bheerapani, a small, remote village in the Nainital district in the central Himalayas, the Community Awareness Centre (CAC) promotes environmentally sustainable livelihoods through processes such as forest protection and organic farming. Its participatory approach engages local people in developing effective, locally-owned solutions to climate change, fostering their initiatives rather than setting rigid project goals. As part of these processes, CAC encourages discussion of gender inequalities and empowers women by raising awareness of their rights over resources and knowledge systems. The tiny NGO, which is run by only four people on a shoestring budget, has facilitated amazing transformations against the backdrop of climate change in India. It has inspired women to become local leaders in climate-related issues and advocates of more sustainable organic farming. It has also helped to shift perceptions of gender roles.