Increasing trend of the burden of household water management is exemplified by recent literature as the effect of climate change on women. The current study explores a gender role in household water management in the context of climate change in the Melamchi watershed area of Nepal. The study shows that decreasing water volume compounded with the geographical proximity of water sources determines workload women have to bear regarding distance cover, time spent, and frequency for water collection. Search for new water sources is potential risk perceived by women, whereas scarcity of household water is the apparent perceived risk at the community level. Climate change effect is gradual and hence perceived as less important over other immediate problems by individual and community. Sensitization over awareness at individual, household, and community level is hence indispensable attitudinal and motivational capacity for climate change adaptation to increasing water stress borne by women.
Shrestha, S; Chapagain, PS; Ghimire, M
Gender Perspective on Water Use and Management in the Context of Climate Change: A Case Study of Melamchi Watershed Area, Nepal
Sage Open