Climate information needs, preferred delivery channels, and digital readiness among women- and youth-run rice MSMEs in Kenya and Nigeria

We examine access to, perceived usability, and preferences for climate information services (CIS) among women- and youth- run rice micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in Kenya and Nigeria. Our analysis draws on a mixed- methods dataset combining individual survey data, focus group discussions, and key informant interviews across major rice- producing regions in both countries. Using an ordered regression, we examine factors associated with perceived usability of climate information, while qualitative evidence provides deeper insights into underlying mechanisms and the rationale that shapes the actors’ decision- making. Our results show that access to climate information is uneven across actors in the rice value chain, with merchants reporting substantially higher access than processors and farmer- traders. However, access alone is not sufficient to ensure use. Perceived usability of climate information is strongly associated with digital readiness and, more importantly, with information- quality characteristics such as localization, interpretability, and decision relevance. Ordered- response estimates show that higher digital readiness is significantly associated with higher perceived usability of climate information (β = 0. 61, p < 0. 0.01). Enterprises that receive forecasts that are not location- specific or difficult to interpret report significantly lower perceived usability of climate information, even when access exists. Distributional patterns further indicate that post- harvest and market- oriented MSMEs apply stricter standards when evaluating the usability of climate information, reflecting their exposure to time- sensitive operational risks.