Environmental conflicts and women’s vulnerability in Africa

Abstract

This article examines environmental conflicts and women’s vulnerability in Africa. Environmental resources are critical to poor women’s productive and reproductive lives in Africa. Environmental resources diversify livelihoods and are key to the survival strategies women adopt. Environmental conflicts are ofconcern in several parts of Africa and they have gendered impacts that needto be considered. This article focuses on two main aspects. The first examinesthe linkages between environmental conflicts, women’s vulnerability and gender-based violence. The second considers environmental conflicts, accessto resources and women’s vulnerability. In particular, the focus is on the way in which conflicts restrict women’s access to and control of environmental resources. Additionally, the impacts of environmental degradation which tendto characterise environmental conflicts are considered. The article also brieflydiscusses women’s responses and adaptation strategies to the challenges they confront in relation to environmental conflicts.