Breaking Down Barries:Climate Changes Devastating Impact on African Women
- 365healthdiaries
- 3 days ago
- 3 min read
Updated: 2 days ago
By Hamu Madzedze
Online Health and Gender Editor-Zimbabwe
In the scorching heat of Africa, a silent crisis is unfolding. Climate change, often perceived as a neutral phenomenon, is disproportionately affecting women, exacerbating existing gender inequalities and threatening their livelihoods. Women in Africa are more vulnerable to climate-related disasters, such as droughts, floods, and heatwaves, due to limited access to resources, including land, education, and decision-making power.
According to the African Climate Change Gender Initiative (ACGI), women comprise 54-63% of the poor in Africa, making them more susceptible to climate change impacts. The statistics are alarming: women spend approximately 40 billion hours collecting water annually, a task worsened by climate change.
"Climate change is not just an environmental issue it's a human rights issue, and women are at the forefront of this crisis," said Dr. Agnes Mwang'ombe ,a plant pathologist
The impact on women's lives is far-reaching. Climate change affects their agricultural production, food security, health, water, and energy access, leading to increased poverty and vulnerability. Rising temperatures and changing precipitation patterns are reducing crop yields, with maize yields in southern Africa projected to decrease by 14% by mid-century and 33% by the end of the century. Droughts and floods are becoming more frequent, affecting crop productivity, especially staple crops like maize, sorghum, and millet.
Climate change is exacerbating food insecurity, with 163 million people in Africa facing acute food insecurity in 2024. Women and children are disproportionately affected, with climate-related disasters leading to increased domestic violence and exploitation. In sub-Saharan Africa, women's agricultural yields could increase by 20-30% if they had equal access to resources, potentially boosting agricultural output by 2.5-4%.
In North Africa, women are facing increased water scarcity, with countries like Tunisia and Algeria experiencing severe droughts. In East Africa, women are disproportionately affected by climate-related displacement, with 80% of refugees and internally displaced persons being women and children. In West Africa, women are leading the fight against climate change, with initiatives like the Women's Environmental Programme (WEP) in Nigeria empowering women to adapt to climate change through sustainable agriculture practices and climate-resilient livelihoods.
Climate change is also fueling a surge in femicide across Africa. A 2025 UN Spotlight brief found that climate change is amplifying social and economic stresses that fuel increased violence against women and girls. In South Africa, Zambia, Malawi, and Mozambique, climate-related disasters have led to increased domestic violence, with women and girls facing heightened risks of sexual violence and exploitation.
"As resources become scarcer due to climate change, women and girls experience greater marginalization with limited access to land, education, and financial services," says Mary Izobo, Advocacy Programme Manager at the Centre for the Study of Violence and Reconciliation.
In South Africa, the femicide rate has increased by 20% in areas affected by drought. The situation is dire, and urgent action is needed.
To address the climate-gender nexus, governments, policymakers, and stakeholders must prioritize gender-responsive climate policies, capacity building, access to resources, and media engagement.
The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) emphasizes the need for gender-responsive climate policies and increased women's participation in decision-making.
The African Development Bank (AfDB) highlights the importance of integrating gender considerations into climate change frameworks. Initiatives like the African Women in Agricultural Research and Development (AWARD) and the Women's Environmental Programme (WEP) are supporting women's empowerment in agriculture and promoting climate-resilient livelihoods.
The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) is implementing the Roadmap Towards Gender-Transformation in Africa's New Agri-Food System Strategy (2026-2035) to ensure women's participation in decision-making and access to productive resources.
These efforts aim to address the disproportionate impact of climate change on women in Africa, promoting gender equality and climate resilience.
During her presentation at the Africa Science Cafe Consortium on Thursday,Teresa Anderson from Action Aid emphasized the critical role of the media in addressing climate justice.
"Spotlighting unjust climate action with communities' and stakeholders' perspectives, reminding governments of their obligations and the just transition principles are key roles the media plays when it comes to addressing issues of climate justice."said Anderson
Imani Ngusale, ACHCGA Strategic Lead, highlighted that climate change deepens existing gender inequalities, leading to heightened risks related to water scarcity, climate-induced displacement, and gender-based violence. She stressed that "gender-blind climate reporting often erases the lived realities of women caregivers and frontline communities, leading to policy responses that fail to address health inequalities." ACHCGA is engaging the media to elevate evidence-based gender stories connecting climate, health, and rights.
The media plays a crucial role in highlighting the intersectionality of climate change and gender. By amplifying women's voices and stories, the media can raise awareness about the disproportionate impact of climate change on women and advocate for gender-responsive climate policies.