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In a stark warning, CARE International’s regional director for East and Southern Africa has highlighted the disproportionate impact of this year’s super El Niño phenomenon on women in the region. Walter Mwasaa, who oversees programmes across twelve nations, emphasised that the challenges women face will intensify, particularly in light of recent foreign aid reductions. As the climate crisis exacerbates existing vulnerabilities, the implications for women’s health and well-being are profound.
The Impending Impact of Super El Niño
This year’s super El Niño, characterised by markedly elevated sea surface temperatures in the Pacific Ocean, is expected to unleash severe weather patterns across East and Southern Africa. Mwasaa articulated concern that women will be the most affected demographic during this climatic upheaval, a scenario he equates to the impacts of war or health crises like Ebola. “As with war, and as with Ebola, it is women in communities who are going to struggle the most,” he stated. “They will face the largest health challenges and bear the burden of caring for families.”
The climatic anomalies associated with El Niño typically lead to regional droughts and excessive rainfall. Forecasts indicate that countries in the northern part of the region, such as Tanzania, Kenya, Ethiopia, and Somalia, will experience increased rainfall, while southern nations like Malawi, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, and Madagascar brace for intense drought conditions. The economic fallout is staggering, with a projected loss of $342 billion (£260 billion) in global agricultural output potentially jeopardising food security across the continent.
Women at the Forefront of Climate-Induced Crises
Research increasingly supports Mwasaa’s assertion that climate disasters exacerbate existing gender disparities. For instance, studies have shown that in Bangladesh, climate-induced catastrophes have led to a 40 per cent rise in child marriages. In Somaliland, the exigencies of drought have compelled girls to undertake lengthy water-fetching journeys, sacrificing their education in the process. During times of crisis, households often prioritise sons’ education over daughters’, further entrenching gender inequality.
Mwasaa noted that the strain on women is particularly acute during pregnancy, as they often lack access to adequate nutrition during food shortages. “Mothers will usually work the hardest to provide food, and she will be allowed less rest, and she will typically eat last,” he explained. Disturbing accounts have emerged, such as the story of a woman who was forced to give birth while perched in a tree during floods in Mozambique. With extreme weather events becoming more frequent due to the climate crisis, such harrowing experiences are likely to multiply.
The Devastating Consequences of Aid Cuts
The challenges women face are compounded by severe cuts to foreign aid that have decimated essential programmes. CARE International’s budget for East and Southern Africa is anticipated to plummet from approximately $250 million in 2024 to just $140 million by 2027. Ethiopia, once a beneficiary of a $130 million budget, is set to receive a mere $15 million by 2027. The only country currently allocated direct aid from the United States for 2027 is Malawi, with a modest $8 million.
In Somalia, the closure of approximately 50 CARE-supported health and nutrition centres has exacerbated the plight of millions. With two million children suffering from acute malnutrition, including nearly 500,000 facing severe conditions, the situation is critical. Mwasaa described the troubling influx of pregnant women to remaining facilities, many arriving dehydrated and exhausted after perilous journeys in search of care.
A Call for Sustainable Solutions
As traditional funding sources dwindle, CARE is actively seeking partnerships with the private sector to bolster its initiatives. Mwasaa believes that encouraging communities to move beyond reliance on aid is essential for sustainable development. However, he acknowledged the challenges in aligning the needs of African nations with products from wealthier countries. “Development partners, and especially Western governments, are telling us that we now need to find ways of doing business with them, but oftentimes it is hard to find products from rich countries that people in African countries need or can afford,” he remarked.
Despite these hurdles, Mwasaa expressed optimism regarding pan-African cooperation, noting a growing commitment among nations to support one another in addressing crises such as Ebola and food security. “This kind of ownership is going to be crucial if we are to make development work in the years ahead,” he asserted.
Why it Matters
The impending super El Niño poses a significant threat not only to the physical health of women across East and Southern Africa but also to their social and economic well-being. As aid diminishes and climate challenges intensify, the ramifications could ripple through communities, exacerbating existing inequalities and undermining progress towards gender equity. The urgency of the situation calls for immediate attention and action, not just from local governments but from the global community as well. Addressing these challenges is paramount to ensuring that women do not bear the brunt of a climate crisis that is already rewriting the narrative of resilience and recovery in the region.
