Gender equality and climate and disaster resilience 

When extreme weather events strike, women are more vulnerable to their impact and recover more slowly than men.

Women from low-income families that rely on natural resources for their livelihood are especially vulnerable. Disasters can increase women’s unpaid care and domestic work burden, since they are often the primary caretakers within the household. Disasters and displacement also exacerbate women’s vulnerability to domestic abuse and sexual assault.

For men in the traditional provider role, periods of food insecurity can cause extreme pressure, with a wide range of consequences on their health. Conversely, communities and societies that have moved beyond traditional gender roles are more resilient and more effective at recovering from disasters.

UNDP works to strengthen gender equality in communities affected by climate change and natural disasters by:

• Integrating gender equality measures in national plans to build resilience to climate change and natural disasters;
• Incorporating gender-responsive approaches in post-disaster recovery plans;
• Providing women and men with equal access to renewable energy technologies and sustainable agriculture practices.