FinDev Guide

Resilient Rural Women: A Guide to Knowledge Resources

Exploring the intersection of financial inclusion, gender equity and climate change
Woman from Senegal smiling and holding a burlap bag on her head.

Rural women are at the forefront of climate shocks and stresses. They are among the most impacted by climate change and face multiple limitations that affect their ability to adapt to a changing environment. For example:

  • Rural women’s livelihoods tend to depend on natural resources and agriculture, which are particularly exposed to shocks and a changing climate.
  • Tasks traditionally undertaken by girls or women, such as fetching water or firewood, are becoming more difficult and time-consuming due to climate change. Traveling farther and to unfamiliar areas exposes women and girls to abuse and keeps them away from more beneficial activities, including homework. 
  • Social norms tend to restrict rural women’s choices and mobility, limiting their options in climate adaptation. For example, social norms might prevent rural women from commuting to the city or taking up salaried work in male-dominated sectors.
  • Rural women remain underserved by financial and agricultural service providers; only 7 percent of global investments in agriculture reach women.

While the challenges may seem daunting, rural women are also part of the solution, as they drive adaptation and build resilience. Advancing rural women’s financial inclusion can provide concrete opportunities to contribute both to climate adaptation and gender equity.

In fact, developing financial solutions for rural women intersects with multiple development priorities, most importantly climate action, agriculture, food security and gender equity. However, few development projects for rural women incorporate these themes. A better understanding of rural women’s financial behavior - as well as innovations in the use of data and the integration of financial services in digital agricultural platforms - is needed to reveal new opportunities for working at the intersection of financial inclusion, gender equity and climate change.

What is the purpose of this guide and how can it be used?

This guide points readers to relevant resources that shed light on rural women’s exposure to climate change and emerging solutions that help them adapt and build their resilience. Its readers will be better equipped to make the case for investing in rural women. The guide can be used in many ways, for example:

  • Staff from development agencies or implementers can use the resources to make the case as to why their institution should dedicate resources to find solutions for rural women. They will also find tools that help them identify opportunities and examples of what other institutions have done.
  • Financial service providers, agritech and fintech companies will find research on the specific needs of rural women and results from different approaches to better serve this target group.
  • Policymakers and advocacy organizations can use the research to raise awareness about rural women’s exposure to climate change and advocate for policies that consider their needs.
     

Rural Women and Climate Change
 

Climate Adaptation, Resilience, and Financial Inclusion: A New Agenda 


Bolstering Women’s Climate Resilience and Adaptation Through Financial Services 


Climate Resilience Through Financial Services: Farzana’s Story 


Resilient Rural Women: Applying Personas and Insights for Climate-Smart Innovation 


Strengthening Rural Women’s Climate Resilience: Opportunities for Financial and Agricultural Service Providers 


Women in Rural and Agricultural Livelihoods + Climate - Insights, Opportunities, and Strategy 


Women and Climate Hypotheses and Assumptions 


Accelerate transformation: Invest in African women leading climate action 


Universal Energy Access Should be Financial Inclusion's Top Priority for Climate Action and Gender Equality 



Rural women’s role in agriculture and global food security
 

Making Digital Platforms Work for Women in Rural Agricultural Livelihoods 


Agritech Can Empower Women to Build Stronger, Inclusive Value Chains 


Financial Solutions for Women in Rural and Agricultural Livelihoods 


Exploring Innovative Financial Services for Rural Women’s Livelihoods 


Leaving No One Behind: A Regional Outlook on Gender and Agrifood Systems – Africa 


Levelling the Field: Improving Opportunities for Women Farmers in Africa 



Gender-transformative business models and innovative approaches
 

The Social Frontier of Financial Inclusion - Women’s Micro Bank Papua New Guinea 


FinEquity Knowledge Guide on incorporating gender-intelligent design in financial services 


Transformative business approaches 


Being Gender Transformative Makes for Better Business 



Analyzing and addressing social norms
 

Out of the Norm: myAgro Breaks Down Barriers to Serving Rural Women 


Gender Norms in Financial Inclusion: Diagnostic Guidance 


Social Norms Atlas 


Social Norms Change for Women’s Financial Inclusion 



Diagnostic tools and data
 

Women Entrepreneur Financing and Investment Toolkit 


FinEquity Knowledge Guide on Gender Data and Analysis 


Gender-aware Supervision Toolkit 


Inclusive Digital Economies and Gender Equality Playbook 


AgriFin Gender Transformative Toolkit 


Women’s Financial Inclusion Toolkit 


Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation’s Gender Equality Toolbox 


Gender and Climate Finance Toolkit 

Leave a Comment

Comments on this page are moderated by FinDev Editors. We welcome comments that offer remarks and insights that are relevant to the post. Learn More