I cannot drink water on an empty stomach: a gender perspective on living with drought

Abstract

This article discusses the impact of drought on livelihoods of agro-based rural communities in the Volta Region of Ghana, and how rural women and men attempt to survive during drought periods. Drought, which negatively affects both women and men in some respects, affects women more due to their combined reproductive and productive workload. Focusing on the Volta Rural Water Supply Project, the article suggests that to reduce women's excessive workload, seasonal migration of men, and hunger arising from drought, development organisations need to incorporate irrigation into rural water supply projects in agro-based economies that are drought-prone. As well, it suggests that equal and full involvement of women in planning and implementation of water projects is essential.