GGCA Gender and Climate Change Training Manual - Women's ...

6.4.2 Technology information
Existing traditional channels for the dissemination of technical
information, e.g., agricultural extension systems, often bypass women and
special efforts may have to be made to reach them. Male family members
do not necessarily share newly-acquired technical information with women,
especially if women are farming their own rather than their hus-bands’ plots.
Thus, it may be necessary for
agricultural extension systems
to hire female employees who
are able to communicate
information directly to women,
rather than expecting it to reach
them through male family members.
Gender should be
mainstreamed into agricultural
extension services and efforts
should be made to create
awareness, sensitize and train all
existing and upcoming extension
workers on gender and climate
change’s new technology concerns.
Other media should also
be used to impart technology
information to women, especially
radio and, increasingly, television.
Box 3 Empowering women: promoting
skill transfer through ICT
Community initiatives that train women
in ICT skills can and do change women’s
self-perception as well as community
perception of women. The critical thing here
is to link women’s skills in Information and
Communication Technology to community
needs – the M S Swaminathan Research
Foundation experience in Pondicherry, and
Tilonia Barefoot College that trains men and
women to use GIS for water management,
testify to how women trained in ICT not only
play a useful role as change agents, but are
able to spiral into a personal empowerment
trajectory.
Source: Gurumurthy, 2005.
185
In industrialized countries technical information about climate
change is often presented in an abstract, highly technical way that is not easily
understood by the general public. Research on women’s learning styles has
shown that they are more responsive to technical information when it is
presented within a social context, making it important that technology
information be presented in an accessible, contextual style that resonates with
women.
6.4.3 Enabling environments for technology transfer
Creating an enabling environment for technology transfer requires
adequate technical, business, management and regulatory skills. Participation
of all stakeholders including the private sector, public agencies, NGOs and
Module 6