Climate Change, Urbanization and Informal Workers: Rethinking the Implications of Climate Challenges on Women’S Informal Businesses in Cameroon

Recently observed changes in climatic conditions and their associated impacts are contributing to the waning of women’s informal business activities. The informal economy and women’s informal businesses play a pivotal role in the urban economy as a major livelihood option for women. Women in Cameroon predominantly work in agriculture and forest related livelihoods and other traditionally female-led sectors such as food crop marketing and processing and as operators of restaurants and eateries. These business activities are sensitive to climate change and are increasingly dealing with climate induced challenges including unstable water and power supplies. Despite the contribution of these informal business activities to the urban economy and livelihoods, they remain vulnerable to climate change impacts and challenges as they are disrupted by unseasonal rain and flooding. Women are also by and large responsible for household and care work including collecting water and fuel wood; and climate change poses a major threat to these activities. Meanwhile, because women are marginalized economically and politically, they are faced with challenges of limited access to resources to cope with climate related risks. Using surveys and interviews, the study highlights the impact of climate change on women’s informal businesses in two coastal urban cities of Douala and Limbe and the ways in which they respond to climate challenges. The study observed that changes in climate have direct and indirect negative impacts on women’s livelihood and wellbeing as they face unique and disproportionate risks. While a majority of women make use of locally developed strategies to minimize climate related risks, the study also observed the absence of formal safety nets to mitigate climate related challenges and shocks affecting women’s informal businesses. The study recommends the design of climate change policies and strategies that are responsive to the specific needs of informal business owners including vulnerable women.