Vulnérabilité des femmes aux contraintes climatiques dans la commune de Sakété au sud-est du Bénin

Women, fundamental actors of development in rural areas, are particularly vulnerable to the effects of climate change due to the degree of exposure and especially the capacity to adapt itself dependent on technical/technological, financial and socio-cultural factors. The overall objective of this study is to contribute to a better understanding of the vulnerability of women in the commune of Sakété to climatic constraints. In order to carry out this study, a methodological approach essentially composed of four stages (documentary research, field surveys, data processing and analysis of results). In addition to survey data on women's constraints in the face of climate change with 301 women, temperature and rainfall data from the period from 1993 to 2023 collected at Météo-Benin were used to carry out the study. .. Data was analyzed using the PEIR analysis model Analysis of rainfall data shows high variability in rainfall from one year to another, with an overall rainfall deficit in the study area. During the rainy season, women farmers are particularly exposed to flooding, which disrupts their production. Women traders, for their part, are experiencing difficulties in their commercial activities due to the precipitation. In times of drought, water supply becomes a major challenge for these women. Furthermore, an upward trend in temperatures is observed, which aggravates the drying up of rivers and groundwater, negatively affecting women's activities. The most severe climatic constraints are heat (90%), cold (90%) and drought (75%). Elderly women (90%) and those who are heads of household (85%) are the most vulnerable to these conditions. To overcome these challenges, the women of the commune have implemented various adaptation strategies. They have thus developed practices such as market gardening on valued land, membership in tontine groups, the processing of agricultural products, as well as the adoption of strategies for adapting to climate change, supported by the organization. CARE-Benin/Togo. These approaches illustrate the resilience and ingenuity of women in the face of climate impacts.