The Silent Struggle: Gender Norms and Climate Change Impact on Ethiopia’s Pastoral Women – A Call for Climate Finance Support at COP-29

A Gendered Burden in Climate-Stricken Pastoral Communities In Ethiopia’s pastoral regions, the impacts of climate change—prolonged droughts and devastating floods—have disrupted traditional livelihoods, with women bearing a disproportionate share of the burden. While livestock loss and resource scarcity force families to seek new income sources, cultural norms and restricted asset control increase women’s vulnerability. The COP-29 conference in Azerbaijan, focused on mobilizing climate finance, underscores the urgent need for gender-sensitive adaptation measures to support Ethiopia’s pastoral women. Recent climate crises in Borana, where both droughts and floods have drastically impacted water access, serve as a powerful example of this need.

Traditional Inheritance, Economic Inequality, and Limited Resources In many pastoral communities, traditional inheritance customs favor men, granting them primary control over essential resources like livestock and land, while women have limited bargaining power. This economic disparity heightens women’s risk of poverty and food insecurity, especially under climate-stressed conditions. COP-29’s climate finance discussions present a chance to support adaptation projects that empower women in managing critical resources, building resilience in the face of climate shocks, and securing a more equitable future.

The Intersection of Water Scarcity, Malnutrition, and Climate-Smart Solutions With climate change worsening water scarcity, women face increasingly difficult conditions in fetching water for their households, a responsibility that can consume hours each day. This water scarcity exacerbates malnutrition risks, particularly among women and children. Investing in climate-smart technologies and resources, such as efficient water storage and purification systems, could reduce these hardships and improve health outcomes. Placing women at the center of climate finance initiatives that address both water and nutrition needs will further strengthen community resilience.

Economic Empowerment as a Pathway to Climate Resilience To build economic security, pastoral women have taken on informal trading activities while men seek labor-intensive work. Community cooperatives and small-scale trades are becoming crucial sources of resilience under climate pressure, yet more support is essential. By empowering women economically, they can contribute more effectively to household resilience, improve food security, and drive adaptation. COP-29 could enhance such initiatives, making them scalable models for climate-resilient livelihoods across pastoral communities.

Encouraging Gender-Responsive Climate Research and Technology Investment in gender-responsive climate technologies and approaches in research, designed to address women’s specific needs and roles, is crucial for sustainable adaptation. COP-29 has a pivotal role to play in directing finance into research and technology that includes women as key participants and beneficiaries. Such solutions—whether in climate-smart agriculture, water management, or sustainable resource use—can ensure that women’s voices are heard and their skills strengthened.

A Call for Gender-Sensitive Climate Finance at COP-29 As COP-29 continues to address the global climate finance agenda, it is vital to ensure that pastoral women in Ethiopia and similar communities are prioritized. Supporting women’s economic empowerment and increasing their access to climate-smart resources and technologies will allow them to be active agents in climate adaptation. Gender-responsive investments, from water management training to technology access, can strengthen the resilience of entire communities. With climate finance directed toward such initiatives, COP-29 has the potential to drive transformative change and foster a future where Ethiopia’s pastoral women are both resilient and empowered.