Empower women to lead in disasters

Women are the worst affected during disasters because of the “obligation” they hold in society of being a wife, a sister and a mother.

In Kenya as in many African countries, patriarchal society and cultural norms that include unequal access to basic information on livelihoods, economic opportunities and social exclusion increase women’s vulnerability to physical and emotional violence as well as their financial insecurity.

Women often own fewer resources than their male relatives. And yet they are generally the first – and in some contexts the only – responders – in emergencies.

In pastoralist communities, for example, many men leave their homes in search for water and pasture for their animals, leaving the women as breadwinners and “protectors” for the family.

Women and girls face abuse, violence and exploitation during disasters. For example, during prolonged drought, some pastoral communities tend to force girls into child marriages in exchange for livestock for survival. In other instances, girls are victims of sexual assault when they trek for long distances to fetch water.

‘‘Gender-based violence increases during periods of drought,” said Halima, an activist working on gender-based violence in Wajir, Kenya.

“Due to the frustration caused by loss of livestock, men turn violent and physically assault their wives when they do not find food in the house.”

DISASTER RESPONSE

Through the Building Resilience and Adaptation to Climate Extremes and Disasters (BRACED) programme, Mercy Corps is working with stakeholders and gender champions to support survivors of gender-based violence by setting up a gender desk and a toll-free line for victims to report any incidents.

In addition, the project is trying to shift gender norms through “safe spaces” like after-school clubs for teenage boys and girls.

The empowerment of women is a critical element in building resilience. We need to strengthen existing – and create more – spaces for women to share their experiences, receive psychological support, protection or mentorship, and find a way to involve men and boys in solving these challenges.

Women-led disaster response has already yielded positive results. For example, a mission led by women only from the Pokot Women Empowerment Organization (POWEO) rescued two households during a 2016 mudslide in West Pokot, Kenya.

"When our house collapsed during the mudslide, my husband escaped and left me and our children alone,” said Leah, a survivor of the mudslide. “I was struggling to rescue them, but some women came and helped us move to a safe place.”

Women, as individuals and organised groups, are agents and leaders of change, innovation and solidarity in their communities. Their perspective and local knowledge provide important contributions to building resilience.

In Baringo County for example, during long dry spells women pick wild fruits which they boil and feed to their children to survive.

Addressing unequal power relations between women and men will cement their participation and leadership in disaster response and recovery.