Gender and Drought
Drought is an increasingly impactful threat to human wellbeing. Droughts are exacerbated by climate change and unsustainable land use practices, and they are occurring more frequently and with greater severity. Drought can have devastating impacts on people and communities, contributing to conflict over resources, civil unrest and instability, heightened repression of women and marginalised groups, and increased rates of Gender-Based Violence. Women and girls are particularly vulnerable to harmful knock-on effects caused by drought due to existing inequalities and stigmas, which is turn may hamper efforts to address and prevent the worsening of drought.
KEY MESSAGES
- Drought is a growing global crisis with far reaching impacts. Climate change and unsustainable land use are increasing the frequency and severity of droughts, affecting landscapes, biodiversity, economic sectors including agriculture, and human wellbeing, ultimately worsening poverty, food insecurity, conflict, displacement, and gender inequality.
- Women and girls are disproportionately affected by drought. Existing gender inequalities mean women often face greater burdens during drought, including increased responsibility for water collection, reduced livelihood opportunities, higher exposure to Gender-Based Violence (GBV), and amplification of other existing inequalities, which in turn reinforce the impacts of drought over time.
- Nature-based Solutions (NbS) are an effective but underutilised response to drought. NbS, such as ecosystem restoration, can strengthen drought resilience while supporting biodiversity and sustainable livelihoods. However, limited understanding, funding, and institutional or community capacity can hinder implementation.
- Women's meaningful participation is essential for successful drought management and NbS implementation. Women should be actively involved in planning, decision-making, implementation, and benefits sharing of drought response, including NbS. This can improve the effectiveness, equity, and long-term sustainability of interventions while helping to reduce existing social and economic inequalities.
- Gender-responsive policies and investments are critical for resilience. Governments and organisations can empower women through education, access to resources, sustainable livelihood opportunities, leadership roles, and gender-sensitive training. Supportive policies may address GBV or land tenure discrimination, strengthen local participation, or integrate gender considerations into drought management strategies and action plans.
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