Climate Change and Conflict in the Horn of Africa: A Gendered Perspective
Publisher: Africa Amani Journal
Author(s): Jihan Ali, Rhoda Mwasigwa, and Michael Sitawa
Date: 2022
Topics: Climate Change, Conflict Causes, Gender, Livelihoods, Renewable Resources
Countries: Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Uganda
Despite much research on climate-conflict linkages, little attention has been paid to the conflict-climate-gender triple nexus. Threats from conflict and climate change, as well as the gendered effects they produce, are quickly accelerating and far-reaching. These are more pronounced in conflict and fragile contexts, with the effects disproportionately affecting women and girls. In the Horn of Africa, a particularly vulnerable region to climate change in its rural communities, gender dynamics place women and girls at the forefront of domestic responsibilities, many of which include natural resources and in turn, making them most affected by the changing climate and its impacts. Despite being on the frontlines of these challenges, gender dynamics further exclude women from participation in natural resource disputes and land ownership, in turn limiting the role of women in climate action. In order to promote the roles and abilities of women in conflict resolution including natural resources and amplify their role in climate action in the Horn of Africa, the paper recommends that first, countries across the region adopt the Women, Peace, and Security National Action Plans. Secondly, civil society groups advocate for the expansion of women’s role in community-level climate action. Third, regional bodies such as IGAD, adopts the Women, Peace, and Security Regional Action Plan. Development Partners focus on availing financing for climate change-related initiatives which include women. Lastly, Centres of excellence such as the International Peace Support Training Centre facilitate trainings to build the capacity of women and gender specialists for dialogue and national resources-related disputes.