By Abdullahi Lukman
Dr. Chinwoke Ifeanyi-Obi, a lecturer at the University of Port Harcourt, has developed a Gender-Responsive Smart Monitor (G-SMART) tool aimed at evaluating and improving gender inclusion in agricultural climate adaptation initiatives across Nigeria.
Speaking at a stakeholder validation meeting on Saturday in Abuja, Ifeanyi-Obi, who is also Acting Head of the Department of Agricultural Extension and Development Services, described the tool as a simplified framework designed to assess both the gender responsiveness of climate policies and how effectively they are implemented at the grassroots level.
“The G-SMART monitor provides real-time analysis of gender equity in policy development and implementation, directly from the perspective of beneficiaries,” she said.
The tool was created under her Policy Innovation Project as part of the Gender Responsive Agriculture Systems Policy (GRASP) Fellowship—a USAID-funded programme designed to advance gender-focused policy development by mid-career African women.m
It is implemented by African Women in Agricultural Research and Development (AWARD).
Ifeanyi-Obi said G-SMART addresses the gap between policy intent and measurable action, particularly in climate change responses, where women often face disproportionate impacts.
Despite forming up to 79% of Nigeria’s rural agricultural workforce, women are significantly less likely to own land and have access to climate resources.
“Climate change could cause up to a 30% decline in crop yields and reduce Nigeria’s GDP by as much as 30% by 2050,” she warned, adding that existing policies often lack clear strategies for gender inclusion.
The G-SMART framework is divided into two sets of indicators: one to measure gender responsiveness in climate adaptation, and another to assess policy implementation.
It identifies 12 thematic areas needing gender mainstreaming, including leadership roles, access to climate-resilient inputs, land ownership, credit, insurance, and adaptation training.
According to Ifeanyi-Obi, the tool is designed to support governments in evaluating existing efforts and guiding the formulation of future gender-inclusive agricultural policies.
