As drought becomes a recurring reality across Southern Africa, countries are advancing gender-responsive approaches to strengthen resilience, protect livelihoods and restore degraded land.
Through the Gender-Transformative Drought Resilience in Transition States in Southern Africa (GRDSA) Project, Madagascar, Mozambique and Zimbabwe are placing women and local communities at the centre of solutions.
Women, who make up the majority of smallholder farmers, are disproportionately affected by drought but are also key actors in managing water, food security and land.
Implemented by the Global Mechanism of the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), and financed by the African Development Bank (AfDB) and the Government of Canada, the project supports countries to develop investment-ready plans that link drought risk data with livelihood opportunities.
These include climate-resilient agriculture, community-based water management and women-led enterprises.
Governments lead the process, ensuring alignment with national priorities and systems. Rather than financing projects directly, the initiative focuses on preparing strategies and pipelines to mobilize public and private investment at scale.
A webinar series hosted by UNCCD and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) (13–15 April 2026) will address tenure security, women’s land rights and accountability mechanisms across regions.
(UN Water)
