On this year's day of the rural woman - let's lift up the accomplishments of these women while also recognizing the impacts climate change is having on thier livelihoods and communitites.
All around the world, the effects of climate change, biodiversity loss, water scarcity, and land degradation hit rural women and girls disproportionately hard, exacerbating existing gender inequalities. Rural women are deeply connected to and dependant upon natural resources for their livelihood. They are often solely responsible for gathering water, firewood, and food for their families. Yet as resources become scarcer, the unpaid labor they undertake becomes more arduous, and their ability to provide for their communities is jeopardized. This burden is not only a matter of access but of rights—restrictions on land ownership and control over resources persist, despite the critical role women play in sustaining agricultural production and natural ecosystems. In Sierra Leone, the agriculture sector makes up 50% of GDP and women are 70% of the workforce.
The climate crisis is indeed gendered, placing women and girls on the front lines of its most severe consequences. They are essential to food security and water management, but climate disruptions, such as droughts or erratic rainfall, force them to work longer hours under increasingly challenging conditions. The added burdens often lead girls to leave school early to support their families, limiting their education and reinforcing the cycle of poverty.
Climate change also acts as a "threat multiplier," aggravating existing social, political, and economic challenges in fragile regions. As pressures mount, the risk of conflict rises, which in turn exacerbates gender-based violence, including child marriage, human trafficking, and conflict-related sexual violence. The impacts of these conflicts and environmental shocks fall disproportionately on women and girls, who are less likely to survive disasters and more likely to experience severe injuries. This is rooted in gender inequalities that reduce their mobility, limit their access to information and resources, and exclude them from decision-making. In the wake of disasters, disparities in access to relief and recovery resources leave women more vulnerable, often trapping them in a cycle of exposure and limited resilience to future threats.
Climate change is also a critical public health issue for women, with rising temperatures and the spread of diseases like malaria and Zika virus increasing risks to maternal and child health. Extreme heat has been linked to higher rates of stillbirth, and the spread of vector-borne illnesses further endangers maternal and neonatal outcomes. Limited access to health services following climate-induced disasters only compounds these threats, creating significant obstacles to recovery and stability for women and their communities.
As outlined in both the Beijing Declaration and the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), prioritizing the rights, resources, and resilience of rural women is crucial. This involves expanding access to infrastructure, such as piped water and electricity, which can alleviate the workload women shoulder in securing clean energy and water. Such interventions could uplift rural women and girls, who are at risk of falling deeper into poverty and food insecurity under current climate projections. They also stand to benefit the global community by fostering resilient and sustainable food and energy systems.
Further, eliminating discriminatory laws and practices is a crucial step toward granting rural women equal rights to land ownership, which has been consistently linked to improved economic outcomes and resilience to environmental shocks. Without equal access to resources, earnings, and legal protections, women’s capacity to recover from these shocks remains limited. Bridging this gap is not just a matter of equity; it is essential for building stronger, more sustainable rural communities.
SGUW's backing of small-scale women farmers stems from the recognition of the vital role these women play in their families, communities, and in the sustainable management of global natural resources. Our agricultural initiatives collaborate with farmers to increase:
Food Security: Women are the majority of the agricultural workforce in Sierra Leone and are crucial to food production. As we have proved, empowering them with resources and training increases crop yields, leading to more food production and improved food security for entire communities. Women farmers tend to prioritize food crops for local consumption, which helps combat hunger and malnutrition in rural areas where it is most prevelent.
Poverty Reduction: Many women farmers operate small plots, but they often lack access to resources like quality seeds, fertilizers, and credit. Providing these resources significantly boosts their productivity and income, lifting families out of poverty. When women earn more, they reinvest in their households—healthcare, education, and nutrition—which has a ripple effect on poverty reduction.
Climate Resilience: Women farmers are key players in climate adaptation, as they are responsible for managing land, crops, and natural resources. Providing support to these women—through training on sustainable farming practices and access to seeds—strengthens community resilience to climate change. The SGUW women farmers also lead by example, adopting sustainable practices that inspire others in their communities.
Second SGUW farm sign installed on the highway into Bo Economic Growth: Closing the gender gap in agriculture could increase agricultural productivity by 20-30% in Africa. Women are instrumental in the agricultural value chain, from farming to marketing. Investing in their productivity not only increases economic output but also supports the continent’s broader economic development goals.
Gender Equality and Empowerment: Supporting women farmers addresses systemic gender inequalities by granting women more access to land, credit, and market opportunities. Empowering women in agriculture strengthens their decision-making role and promotes gender equality within households and communities.
By investing in small women farmers, we create a foundation for stronger, more resilient communities with more stable food systems, reduced poverty, and healthier ecosystems.
Join SGUW in supporting women farmers in Southern Sierra Leone by donating today. Every dollar counts and at SGUW, we put all of your donations to work in the fields and schools of Salone! Please consider a Day of the Rural Woman donation to help us sustain and expand our AG programs.
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