Empowering widows & other vulnerable women in South Sudan by mitigating the effects of environmental degradation and climate change

It is an open secret that women in countries with a long history of conflict such as South Sudan, especially widows, are among the most affected by environmental degradation and climate change. South Sudan has now been categorized as among the countries most vulnerable to the climate crises. Indeed, UNOCHA (South Sudan Humanitarian Needs Overview, 2024) have observed that, “South Sudan faces severe climate vulnerabilities, ranking as the second most vulnerable country globally to natural hazards according to the 2023 INFORM Risk Index. The country stands among the top five most climate-vulnerable countries.” And this has dire implications for women/vulnerable people’s access to water and food security…...among other challenges! UNOCHA continues, “An estimated 95 per cent of the population depends on climate-sensitive livelihoods, increasing their risk of reduced access to water, sanitation challenges and food insecurity due to climate change.”
It is also the case that, there is a correlation between GBV, women’s rights and climate change and we wish to work around this intersection for women’s/widows’ wellbeing, prosperity, rights and dignity. Indeed, UNOCHA have observed that, “The vulnerability of women and girls to GBV contributes to the violation of their Housing, Land and Property (HLP) rights. Climate change and environmental challenges significantly affect HLP rights, especially for populations in flood- affected areas, where recurring climate change-induced displacement compounds shelter needs in addition to conflict over natural resources.”
Our wish as Amani Orphans and Widows Welfare Services Inc. (AOWWS-I) NGO is to make use of women, particularly widows, as both agents and direct beneficiaries of environmental conservation and resilience-building to the climate crises. This we wish to do by designing (together with the affected women/widows) economic empowerment programmes that have positive impact on the environment and the climate crises, for example, assembling them into groups to establish community tree nurseries or converting waste into usable/valuable products (also for clean energy purposes) as part of the circular economy principle. Working with these women/widows, we wish to help establish useful, productive and culturally-appropriate livelihood options that confer benefits to the environment and or reduce the scale of the climate crises in South Sudan, while at the same time helping to promote their rights.

NB: The Photo shown is that of widows and other vulnerable women in South Sudan’s Jonglei State who produce clean energy from recycled waste to make snacks for sale