Africa’s Climate Resilience Faces Threat from Gender Inequality

A new policy brief by NexGen Deutsche-Afrik (NEDEA) warns that Africa’s climate adaptation goals are at risk if systemic barriers facing women in agribusiness are not addressed. The report emphasizes the need for a holistic approach to support women, who constitute a significant portion of the agrifood workforce.

The report, The Gender Lens in Climate-Resilient Agribusiness, highlights long-standing structural inequalities that make women particularly vulnerable to climate shocks.

Tanzania as a Case Study

The report identifies a significant disparity in land ownership in Tanzania. Women comprise 69% of the agricultural workforce but own only 2% of registered land. This imbalance limits access to technology, training, irrigation systems, and extension services, hindering climate adaptation efforts and leaving women-led agribusinesses with fewer resources to withstand climate shocks.

Women’s Central Role in Agrifood Systems

The report stresses that resilience in agribusiness is both an environmental and social challenge. The gendered nature of climate vulnerability is described as systemic, not incidental.

Key Findings

The report reveals a US$96 billion financing gap for Africa’s agri-SMEs, with women-led businesses facing higher loan rejection rates. Women in Sub-Saharan Africa are also nearly 30% less likely to use mobile internet, restricting access to crucial early-warning weather alerts. Climate-induced droughts increase household burdens, reducing the time women can dedicate to adaptation training or agribusiness management due to increased unpaid labor.

Call to Action

NEDEA advocates for gender-responsive climate finance as a priority, particularly as Ghana and Germany strengthen their agricultural partnerships through GIZ and BMZ. The report recommends de-risked credit lines, legal reforms to secure land rights, and the inclusion of women in high-level climate governance.

The report concludes that empowering women agripreneurs is a strategic investment in the continent’s future and essential for food security in Africa. NexGen Deutsche-Afrik (NEDEA) is a policy-driven organization focused on fostering youth collaboration between Africa and Germany to advance sustainability.