Climate Change and Livelihood Nexus in the Congo Basin: Understanding Gender-Differentiated Impacts on Women's Health and Local Response

The Congo Basin is an important ecological zone for a population of over 75 million inhabitants from Cameroon, Central Africa Republic, Democratic Republic of Congo, the republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, and Gabon. This population depends on rain-fed agriculture, collection of forest resources, fresh water, and other economic activities led by women. The region is threatened by climate change which has affected livelihood and wellbeing especially for the poor, majority of whom are women. This paper examines the impact of climate change on the health of women and their local adaptation strategies. It is based on grey literature and desktop review supplemented by and qualitative analysis of data from field interviews conducted among selected women groups in Cameroon and the republic of Congo. Findings reveal changes in temperatures and rainfall trends characterized by flood, drought, desertification, landslides, and with the temperatures projected to rise by 3-5°C and precipitation between 20-30% by 2100. The result is increasing water scarcity and water-borne diseases, soil erosion, reduction in crop yields, and increasing food insecurity. All of the above have increase the cost of living and healthcare in a region where most of the inhabitants have low income and health infrastructures are inadequate. This situation has impacted women most and compounded gender inequality because of women’ high women demand for health care and challenges to care affordability which are gender differentiated. Women resort to traditional health services, migration, and alternative sources of livelihood have so far, produced mixed results with important implications for mainstreaming women’s health in national and regional climate policies.