Climate change and gendered vulnerabilities in the blue economy in Kwale county, Kenya

Climate change is intensifying pressure on blue economy livelihoods in coastal Kenya, yet its gendered effects remain critically underexplored. Although the blue economy is widely recognised as a vehicle for poverty reduction and inclusive growth, the persistent neglect of gender and equity considerations risks perpetuating and deepening existing inequalities. This study examined how climate change vulnerability is experienced differently by women and men within fisheries dependent communities of Shimoni, Vanga, Jimbo, Majoreni villages in Kwale County, Kenya.

A mixed methods approach was employed where 126 household surveys, 10 key informant interviews, and 7 focus group discussions were conducted. Results indicate, significant gender disparities in livelihood participation (chi-square: χ²(9)=63.74, p<0.001, V=0.768) and income control (χ²(1)=18.18, p<0.001, V=0.380) where women also face disproportionate barriers to productive assets, finance, training, mobility, and governance participation, reflected in a highly reliable eight-item vulnerability scale (Cronbach's α=0.921). Women’s participation in governance was critically low, with only 7.1% of respondents confirming representation in decision making structures (p<0.001). While 84% of respondents rated climate impacts as severe, there was no significant difference between genders (Mann-Whitney U=1769.0, p=0.978), this underscored the pervasiveness of climate stress across the community though the impacts were not evenly distributed. Gender determines climate vulnerability, with women concentrated in lower value coastal activities while men dominate higher value offshore fishing. Additionally, results indicate that women also bear a significantly heavier climate driven care burden than men (OR=2.93) who retained stronger resource control and adaptation options despite facing real risks through declining catches and hazardous marine conditions. Common coping strategies were identified though many remain short term and constrained by structural inequalities. Recommendations entail; gender responsive fisheries governance and adaptation policies, equitable access to productive assets and finance, and context specific resource management frameworks that address the intersectional vulnerabilities of coastal fishing communities.