Women-led and gender-sensitive climate action is key to sustainable peace, political stability and greater socioeconomic equality in Africa, writes Mary Izobo.
In today’s world, climate change is no longer just an environmental issue. It is a catalyst for conflict and insecurity. What is often overlooked is how this toxic mix impacts women and girls the hardest, especially in fragile and conflict-affected regions. In Africa, women-led and gender-sensitive climate action is key to sustainable peace, political stability and greater socioeconomic equality.
From the Sahel to the Horn of Africa to Southern Africa, climate change fuels conflicts over natural resources like land, food and water, turning communities and countries against each other. In all of this chaos, women and girls bear the brunt. The effects of climate change and insecurity exacerbate existing gender inequalities, especially in countries facing economic and social inequalities, political instability and resource scarcity.
This places women and girls at the epicentre of displacement, violence and economic vulnerability. Women and girls are forced to walk further for water, risking their safety and education. Displacement due to climate-related disasters pushes them into overcrowded camps, where the threat of sexual violence skyrockets.
The Gendered Impacts of Climate Change
In the Sahel region, severe droughts and desertification have intensified competition over natural resources. Armed conflicts over these resources have led to the displacement of entire communities. In the Horn of Africa and North Africa, food and water insecurity and prolonged droughts have fuelled conflicts in countries like Somalia, Ethiopia and Egypt.
In Southern Africa, countries like South Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Malawi and Mozambique have been hit by floods, droughts, desertification, heat waves and unpredictable weather patterns, creating a looming risk of conflict. Across these regions, women and girls face loss of economic opportunities and increased violence.
The situation is dire in rural areas, where livelihoods rely heavily on natural resources. Women, who are often responsible for land, water management and food production, see their livelihoods being destroyed by erratic weather patterns. As a result, women and girls face increased hunger, poverty and deepened gender inequalities, with limited access to resources, economic opportunities, education, healthcare and decision-making powers.
In these fragile environments, gender-based violence escalates, and the most vulnerable – women and girls – are the first to suffer.
Climate Change as a Threat Multiplier
As many African states are fragile, the intersection between climate change and insecurity is increasingly recognised as a threat multiplier and mirrors conflict scenarios. Scarcity of resources, resource depletion and political instability often lead to societal unrest.
These situations entrench existing vulnerabilities and gender inequalities, with women and girls facing climate-induced displacement, food and water insecurity, violence and social exclusion. Women and girls, particularly in marginalised communities, are left without adequate protection, exposing them to gender-based violence, sexual assault, trafficking and exploitation.
As resources become scarcer due to climate change, women and girls experience greater marginalisation with limited access to land, education and financial services. Economic pressures often increase domestic violence, and girls are pulled out of school to support their households, perpetuating cycles of poverty and inequality.
Disputes over food, water and land spark tensions between communities, sometimes escalating into violence. Climate-related events such as floods, droughts and desertification force millions of women and girls to migrate for safety and resources, straining host communities and governments. This destabilises fragile states and compounds existing humanitarian crises.
Unfortunately, many African countries are ill-prepared to handle these impacts due to their weak governance structures and internal conflicts. The added burden of climate-related disasters further threatens social cohesion and increases the risk of conflict.
Gender-Sensitive Climate Action
The urgency of this moment cannot be overstated or overemphasised. Climate change and conflict will continue to disproportionately affect women and girls unless we act decisively to address these intertwined crises. By prioritising gender equity and placing women at the forefront of climate and security strategies, we can build more resilient communities and promote lasting peace in Africa.
Addressing the climate crisis and its impact on women and girls requires a gender-sensitive approach to adaptation, where women’s roles and experiences are central to building resilience. Governments must ensure that gender is a core component of national climate adaptation plans. Women’s voices should be amplified in climate decision-making to address their unique needs.
Allocating climate funds to women-led projects ensures that women benefit from adaptation efforts. Special funds targeting rural women’s groups can empower women to build resilience and contribute to sustainable solutions. In addition, strengthening women’s networks can help advocate for gender-responsive climate policies.
Humanitarian responses to climate-induced displacement and migration should prioritise the protection of women and girls by providing safe shelters, addressing gender-based violence, and ensuring access to healthcare, education and livelihood opportunities for displaced women and girls.
Women must be involved in local, national, regional and international decision-making processes related to both peacebuilding and climate adaptation. Women’s conflict resolution leadership and natural resource management can lead to more sustainable peace. Governments, grassroots and civil society organisations should implement quotas to ensure women’s representation in climate governance.
Educating women and girls on climate change equips them with the skills to adopt sustainable practices. Training in renewable energy, climate-smart agriculture or eco-tourism can diversify income sources and reduce reliance on climate-sensitive sectors.
Women-Led Solutions
In the face of these challenges, women are leading the charge. Across Africa, women are stepping up in their communities, creating solutions through climate-smart agriculture, renewable energy initiatives and peacebuilding efforts. Their leadership is essential to building climate resilience and sustainable peace.
To combat the dual threats of climate change and conflict, we must recognise women’s and girls’ vital role and empower them to lead. Protecting women and girls from the harsh realities of this new era is not just a moral imperative, it is a strategy for long-term peace and stability.
Governments, policy makers, international organisations, civil society organisations and communities must prioritise gender-sensitive climate action and peacebuilding approaches. Women’s knowledge, leadership and resilience are vital to creating sustainable solutions in climate-affected regions. The time to act is now, and women must be at the centre of these efforts – because nothing about us is without us.
Mary Izobo
Mary Izobo is the Advocacy Programme Manager at the Centre for the Study of Violence and Reconciliation.