Abstract:
Women in the Dry Zone of Sri Lanka, play a major role in agriculture, contributing to
farming, livestock management, household food security, and water-related activities.
However, this role is often undervalued. This study explores how the Climate
Resilience Improvement and Water Management Project (CRIWMP) contributed to
women’s empowerment, with a focus on the Thuduwakkaikulam Cascade. This study
was conducted as a qualitative case study. Primary data were collected by Focus Group
Discussions (FGDs), Key Informant Interviews (KIIs), and field observations which
involved female farmers, farmer leaders, and vulnerable women. Focusing on the
dimensions of resources, agency, and achievements, the analysis was conducted with
the guidance of Kabeer’s empowerment framework. The findings showed CRIWMP
interventions increased women’s access to productive resources, reduced labour
burdens related to accessing water, and diversified livelihoods through home
gardening, groundnut cultivation, poultry rearing, and small-scale enterprises. This
strengthened women’s agency through the formation and enhancement of womenbased
community organizations, which provided access to training, low-interest credit,
leadership opportunities, and collective decision-making. Multidimensional
empowerment happened through women-led enterprises which generated off-season
income and created local employment opportunities that helped in financing children’s
education and improved household resilience. Vulnerable women achieved
independence in finance, and their mental well-being and social recognition within
their families and communities improved significantly. Overall, the study showed that
gender-responsive, climate-resilient water management interventions can drive
empowerment. By integrating livelihood support, capacity building, and inclusive
institutional mechanisms, CRIWMP contributed to transforming women’s traditional
roles within dry zone agricultural systems.
