A new report finds that climate and disaster risks in The Gambia disproportionately affect women due to deep-rooted structural inequalities [1].

This disparity matters because it indicates that environmental crises are not gender-neutral. When women lack equal access to resources and decision-making power, their ability to survive and recover from natural disasters decreases, creating a cycle of vulnerability that hinders national resilience.

The study highlights that women face the heaviest burden of these risks because of systemic gaps in access to livelihoods and resources [1]. These structural barriers prevent women from implementing the same adaptation strategies as men, leaving them more exposed to the volatile environment of the region [2].

According to the findings, drought remains the most widespread hazard across the country [2]. Other primary environmental threats include floods, coastal erosion, and rising temperatures [2]. These hazards interact with existing social inequalities to amplify the hardship faced by female populations.

Because women are often relegated to specific economic roles with less institutional support, the impact of drought and flooding is felt more acutely in their daily lives. The report said urgent action is needed to address these gender gaps to ensure that climate adaptation strategies are inclusive and effective [2].

Without targeted interventions that address the lack of decision-making power for women, the report said the climate crisis will continue to deepen existing social divides. The findings emphasize that resource distribution must be reformed to protect the most vulnerable populations from the escalating threats of coastal erosion, and rising heat [1].

“Climate and disaster risks in The Gambia are not gender-neutral.”

The intersection of gender inequality and climate change in The Gambia suggests that environmental policy cannot succeed without social reform. Because women are disproportionately affected by drought and flooding, climate adaptation strategies that ignore gender dynamics will likely fail to protect a significant portion of the population, potentially slowing the country's overall economic recovery and stability.