WOMEN OF NARYN

Climate change is reshaping agricultural livelihoods worldwide, with women in agro-pastoral communities facing disproportionate challenges. This study examines the climate vulnerability of female farmers in Naryn, Kyrgyzstan—a region experiencing abnormal rising temperatures, declining precipitation and shifting seasonal patterns, alongside a patriarchal system hindering women’s adaptation and capability building. This study presents how these dynamics interconnect in Naryn, as an extreme case. It adds insight by offering a bottom-up perspective while focusing on a particular region to highlight this issue. Using the Sustainable Livelihoods Approach (SLA) and W. Neil Adger’s Vulnerability Conceptual Framework, the research explores how environmental change, gender norms, and resource access intersect to shape women’s adaptation strategies and economic security. A qualitative research approach was employed, combining semi-structured interviews and ethnographically inspired observations. Over 58 days, 40 interviews were conducted across 12 villages using a purposive sampling strategy to capture diverse perspectives from local stakeholders and experts. Thematic analysis identified key patterns in adaptation, resilience, and gendered livelihood challenges, while source triangulation strengthened the validity of findings. Key results indicate that rising temperatures are accelerating glacier melt, increasing flash floods, and contributing to seasonal droughts and pasture degradation. These environmental changes disrupt agricultural practices, reducing livestock productivity and crop yields. Women’s vulnerability is further exacerbated by restrictive gender norms, limited decision-making power, and barriers to education and resources. Governmental and NGO interventions, while present, remain largely ineffective in addressing systemic vulnerabilities, focusing instead on short-term relief. Applying the analytical frameworks, this study concludes that women in Naryn face escalating climate-induced livelihood disruptions, driven by both environmental and socio-institutional constraints. These findings highlight the urgent need for gender-responsive climate policies and targeted interventions to enhance women’s resilience and adaptive capacity in rural Kyrgyzstan.