Chapter 2: Social Norms and Equitable Access to Climate Finance Among Women Cassava Producers in Oyo State, Nigeria

In the agrifood systems (AFSs) in low- and middle-income nations, characterised by widespread small-scale production, social norms are crucial in determining the opportunities and life outcomes of individuals. Women are primary agricultural producers and are prominently involved in small-scale agriculture. Their ability to scale up production and boost value through processing and marketing, thereby improving economic independence, is shaped by access to resources. This study examined how social norms affect women cassava producers’ access to climate finance. Data were collected from 70 women cassava producers using interview schedules. Descriptive (percentages, means, and standard deviation) and inferential (regression) statistics were used for the analysis. Results on roles performed by women cassava producers showed they participated more within the processing (peeling and sieving – 100.0%, packaging – 92.9%) and marketing (trading – 98.6%) value chains. Restrictive social norms were more prevalent in three norm domains: access and resource ownership (sole operation of machinery $−X-=1.04$⁠); influence and decision-making (having a say in household decisions $−X-=2.39$⁠); and mobility and decorum (leaving the house without husband's permission $−X-=1.87$⁠, riding a bicycle/motorcycle to the market $−X-=1.64$⁠). Many respondents (54.3%) were favourably disposed to the possibility of accessing climate finance, notwithstanding the prevalence of restrictive social norms in their context. Social norms within the access and resource ownership domain collectively limited the chance of women cassava producers’ equitable access to climate finance by 62.7%. Therefore, implications abound for policy makers to initiate deliberation on social norms and encourage changes in restrictive norms to advance gender equality, thereby engendering equitable access to resources.