The Gendered Face of Climate Chaos – How Women in Nigeria Are Fighting Two Battles at Once.
Climate Change and Conflict: The Unseen Double Crisis for Women in Nigeria
Imagine waking up to a world where your farm no longer produces food, your home is under threat, and the water you fetch comes with the risk of violence. For many women in Benue and Nasarawa States, Nigeria, this is not just a possibility—it’s their daily reality.
A groundbreaking study has shed light on how climate change and conflict are making life unbearable for women and girls in these regions. With 150 household surveys, 8 Focus Group Discussions (FGDs), and 10 Key Informant Interviews (KIIs), the research paints a stark picture:
- Benue: Women here suffer from both climate change and conflict. They face displacement, gender-based violence, and destroyed livelihoods, with farmer-herder conflicts pushing them deeper into poverty.
- Nasarawa: Though mainly impacted by climate change, women here are still struggling with extreme heat, droughts, and food shortages that threaten their families' survival.
Women and Girls Bear the Worst of It
The study found that climate change and conflict are not just abstract problems—they are taking lives. Flooding, drought, and extreme heat have contributed to community deaths, loss of farmland, and the collapse of local economies.
The Scariest Findings?
- 78.7% of households have been affected by climate change.
- 55.3% of women reported experiencing intimate partner violence, worsened by economic stress.
- 65.3% of girls dropped out of school due to climate-related hardships and conflict.
Some women are forced into survival sex or child marriages just to access food.
What Needs to Change?
The women in these communities are not just victims; they are fighters and survivors. But they need real solutions:- Peacebuilding efforts to resolve farmer-herder conflicts.
- Food security programs to combat hunger.
- Support for women’s livelihoods so they don’t have to depend on risky alternatives.
- Improved education access so girls aren’t forced into early marriages.
This crisis is real, but solutions exist. The world just needs to listen.
What can YOU do?
- Share this post to raise awareness.
- Support organizations helping women in conflict-affected areas.
- Demand action from leaders to address the intersection of climate change and conflict.