Gender-responsive climate-smart agriculture: a scoping review of equity, access, and participation in adaptation programs in sub-Saharan Africa

Abstract

Climate change poses significant threats to agricultural productivity, food security, and rural livelihoods in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), with women disproportionately affected due to persistent inequalities in access to productive resources, climate information, and adaptation opportunities. Climate-Smart Agriculture (CSA) has been widely promoted as a strategy for enhancing agricultural resilience; however, evidence on its gender responsiveness remains fragmented. This study conducted a scoping review to systematically map and synthesize the literature on gender-responsive CSA interventions, focusing on equity, access, participation, empowerment, and adaptation outcomes in SSA. Guided by the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR), literature published between 2010 and 2026 was identified from major bibliographic databases and grey literature sources. Of 525 records retrieved, 23 studies met the inclusion criteria and were synthesized using descriptive and thematic analyses. From the study, the evidence indicates that gender-responsive CSA interventions improve women’s access to knowledge, extension services, financial resources, and leadership opportunities, contributing to enhanced adaptive capacity and household resilience. However, the review also identified mixed outcomes, with several studies reporting that persistent socio-cultural norms, insecure land tenure, limited institutional support, unequal decision-making power, and weak policy implementation constrained women’s empowerment and reduced the effectiveness of CSA interventions. Important knowledge gaps include limited longitudinal evidence, inadequate intersectional analyses, underrepresentation of West and Central Africa, and insufficient evaluation of institutional accountability. The review concludes that achieving inclusive climate adaptation requires a transition from gender-responsive to gender-transformative CSA approaches that address structural inequalities, strengthen governance systems, and promote equitable access to resources, decision-making, and adaptation benefits across Sub-Saharan Africa.