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

Case studies
Case study 1
Women planning sustainable agriculture
Since 2003, the Secretariat of the Pacific
Community (SPC) has been implementing
a sustainable agricultural development
programme throughout the Pacific region.
Its DSAP programme – Development of
Sustainable Agriculture in the Pacific – has
worked across 17 Pacific nations.
of relevant stakeholders from both government
and civil society.
The primary beneficiaries are men and
women farmers in Pacific Island Countries, and
many local communities, comprising thousands
of people, are likely to have benefited.
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In the atolls, the DSAP focused on
identifying problems and testing technologies
with farmers to improve their traditional
agricultural systems. Traditionally, the farmers
used tree crop-based multi-storey agricultural
systems. DSAP worked to integrate livestock
into these systems.
The initiative’s focus on better environmental
and natural resource management for improved
agriculture and sustainable livelihoods, has
resulted in spin-off benefits for both disaster
risk reduction, especially in reducing risks
associated with climate change, and gender
equity and equality in the region.
In the lowlands, the emphasis moved from
research to identification and promotion of
promising technologies, such as improved crop
varieties, pest and disease management, land
conservation and agroforestry technologies.
DSAP also deploys communication outreach
tools to better promote project efforts within
member countries, for example, the use of
radio, and the production and use of posters,
handbooks, brochures and videos at a national
level.
Considering that Small Island Developing
States (SIDS) have a high vulnerability to
climate change, the programme has included
climate change adaptation measures such
as improvements to the quality of soil, more
use of drought-resistant or saltwater-resistant
crops, improved irrigation systems, better
management of pests and diseases, evaluation
of tissue plant cultures, terraced and planted
hillsides to prevent landslides and run-off,
and support for widespread home gardens for
better access to nutritious food.
The project was designed on a model
that encourages country-level planning,
implementation and coordination. This has
been achieved by establishing National
Steering Committees (NSCs) involving a range
The use of a participatory needs
assessment approach to improve sustainable
agricultural production and food security has
been key to success in mainstreaming gender
while also addressing the challenges of hazards
Case study 1 / Module 1