As COP29 convenes world leaders, policymakers, and climate activists, the critical role of
women in climate resilience, especially across Africa, deserves renewed focus. Africa's women have long been at the forefront of adaptive responses to climate change—leading initiatives in sustainable agriculture, renewable energy, and community-based financial support. These efforts are not only vital for the continent’s climate resilience but also essential for achieving global climate goals. COP29 presents a unique opportunity to address the barriers African women face in scaling their climate efforts, such as limited access to resources, exclusion from decision-making processes, and insufficient funding for women-led projects.
Climate change presents significant challenges globally, but its impact is more pronounced in vulnerable regions, especially in Africa. Across the continent, women face an outsized share of these challenges, mainly because of their social roles and economic dependencies. Despite these obstacles, women are emerging as powerful agents of climate resilience. In Tunisia, for example, the Coastal Resilience Initiative was launched in 2023 to mitigate the effects of rising sea levels on the Mediterranean coast. Women from coastal communities have been instrumental in restoring mangroves and adopting sustainable fishing practices, ensuring food security and income generation for many families. In West Africa, the recent collapse of the Alau Dam in Borno State, Nigeria, underscores the precariousness of existing infrastructure in the face of extreme climate events.
This disaster not only caused widespread flooding and displacement but also laid bare the socio-economic vulnerabilities of women, who depend on agriculture for their livelihoods. This article explores the role of women in climate resilience from both North and West African perspectives, highlighting the strategies employed to confront climate change and the ongoing barriers to their progress.
North Africa faces severe environmental challenges exacerbated by climate change, such as
prolonged droughts, water shortages, and the loss of arable land. Women, who are largely
responsible for household resources, bear the brunt of these changes. Despite these hurdles, women in countries like Tunisia, Morocco, and Egypt are leading innovative community-based initiatives to foster resilience.
In Tunisia, for example, the Coastal Resilience Initiative was launched in 2023 to mitigate the
effects of rising sea levels on the Mediterranean coast. Women from coastal communities have been instrumental in restoring mangroves and adopting sustainable fishing practices, ensuring food security and income generation for many families. These efforts strengthen both ecological health and economic stability, particularly as women receive training in environmental conservation and resource management.
Morocco has also seen success through its Women in Solar Farming Project, which equips
women farmers in water-scarce regions with solar-powered water pumps. This initiative reduces reliance on erratic rainfall, ensuring crops and livestock remain viable. Additionally, it
introduces women to agrovoltaics—the combination of solar panels with traditional farming— thereby boosting both food and energy production. Such projects not only address immediate agricultural needs but also help women acquire technical skills, positioning them as vital players in the renewable energy transition.
In Egypt, initiatives like the Shamsina Initiative and the Al Murunah Project highlight the
diverse roles women play in climate adaptation. Shamsina provides low-income communities
with solar-powered water heaters, addressing both energy costs and carbon emissions.
Meanwhile, Al Murunah empowers rural women through sustainable agriculture and water
management, offering them training and access to markets, and encouraging leadership within their communities. These efforts improve resilience by fostering economic empowerment alongside environmental stewardship .
Despite their significant contributions, North African women face ongoing challenges in their
climate efforts. Water scarcity remains a persistent threat, requiring women to walk longer
distances to collect water, while unpredictable weather makes farming increasingly unreliable. Moreover, gendered barriers often exclude women from decision-making processes, limiting their access to resources like land and technology. Addressing these challenges will require more gender-sensitive climate policies and increased investment in women-led climate initiatives.
In West Africa, climate change has amplified the vulnerability of communities, particularly with extreme weather events such as floods and droughts. Women, who form the backbone of agricultural communities, are particularly affected. The recent collapse of the Alau Dam in
Borno State, Nigeria, underscores the precariousness of existing infrastructure in the face of
extreme climate events. This disaster not only caused widespread flooding and displacement but also laid bare the socio-economic vulnerabilities of women, who depend on agriculture for their livelihoods.
West African women are finding innovative ways to adapt to these challenges. In Borno State, women-led community savings groups are providing a financial safety net for households, helping them better withstand climate shocks. These grassroots groups exemplify the determination of women to create security for their families despite limited resources. Such efforts are often supported by community-based adaptation strategies that include promoting drought-resistant crops, developing solar-powered irrigation systems, and encouraging conservation agriculture. For example, in regions like Cameroon and The Gambia, women have successfully implemented solar-powered irrigation systems that enable continued farming despite water shortages.
A significant component of climate resilience in West Africa is community-based adaptation,
which is gaining traction as a promising strategy. Women in small farming communities have
begun organizing cooperatives that focus on sustainable agriculture practices, water
management, and renewable energy adoption. By promoting practices like drought-resistant
cropping and solar irrigation, they contribute to both food security and the mitigation of climate impacts on agriculture.
Nevertheless, the need for comprehensive, gender-responsive policy frameworks remains pressing. The Borno State Climate Action Plan (BoSCAP) aims to bridge this gap by ensuring
good governance, inclusive participation, and dedicated funding for addressing women's unique challenges. However, the success of these initiatives depends on more than policy statements; women must have meaningful involvement in decision-making processes. Their voices are crucial in shaping policies that directly affect their lives and the well-being of their communities.
Across North and West Africa, women are vital agents of change in their communities' fight
against climate change. Their contributions span a broad range of sectors, from renewable energy adoption and sustainable agriculture to community finance initiatives. However, they share similar challenges that hinder their potential as climate resilience leaders. Limited access to land, technology, and financial resources continues to be a major barrier. Women's exclusion from formal decision-making processes means that their needs and perspectives are often overlooked in national climate adaptation strategies.
Another recurring issue is the lack of adequate funding for women-led initiatives. While there
are numerous examples of successful projects, they often operate on a small scale and lack the resources needed to expand. Long-term and flexible funding mechanisms, specifically targeting women-led climate initiatives, could help scale these successful models and broaden their impact across the continent.
Moreover, gender norms in many parts of Africa contribute to the heavy workload of women,
particularly in times of crisis. During extreme weather events, women are expected to take on additional responsibilities, such as ensuring water and food security, while also managing
household tasks. These compounded burdens are not merely a personal strain; they reflect
broader systemic inequalities that climate policies must address to be effective.
For Africa to build climate resilience effectively, the empowerment of women must be central to climate action strategies. Governments and NGOs must ensure that women have access to the resources they need—land, financing, and technology—to lead adaptation initiatives. Financial services, such as microloans tailored for women farmers, could significantly enhance their capacity to withstand climate shocks.
Training and capacity-building programs specifically designed for women are also crucial.
Programs that equip women with skills in renewable energy technologies, sustainable
agriculture, and climate risk management will not only empower them economically but also
build community-wide resilience. Such training can be transformational, as evidenced by
projects like Morocco's agrovoltaics initiative and Egypt's Shamsina program.
Moreover, involving women in decision-making processes—from local community councils to
national climate policy discussions—is imperative. Policies that are crafted with direct input
from women are more likely to address their specific needs and the unique challenges they face. Encouraging their participation at all levels of policy and implementation will ensure that climate resilience measures are comprehensive and inclusive.
Ultimately, women's contributions to climate resilience are not just about adaptation; they are about transformation. By leading efforts in renewable energy, sustainable agriculture, and grassroots finance, women are reshaping their communities in ways that promote equity, sustainability, and long-term resilience. These initiatives, however, require the support of inclusive policies, adequate funding, and social recognition to reach their full potential.
Written By:
Israa Elkhalil (UN Volunteer, Journalist, Global Youth Ambassador)
Rajaa Faizadi (Policy analyst and Researcher at Politics4her)
Yvonne Momah (Lawyer and Programme Manager at The Women’s Leadership Institute)
References
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