Understanding the nexus of gender, climate change and pandemics in South Sudan

Keywords: south sudan, gender, floods, COVID-19, evaluation research
Session Type: Virtual Paper Abstract
Day: Saturday
Session Start / End Time: 2/26/2022 09:40 AM (Eastern Time (US & Canada)) - 2/26/2022 11:00 AM (Eastern Time (US & Canada))
Room: Virtual 67

Abstract

South Sudan is considered as one of the very high-risk countries in the aspect of coping up with the ongoing pandemic, COVID-19 and annual flooding in Jonglei state. COVID-19 programmes focused on preventive strategies such as handwashing with soap, physical distancing and masking, while ignoring the realities of women and other vulnerable groups in remote locations.

This study explores the impact of COVID-19 and recurring floods on women’s health and safety in these remote areas, as access to markets, businesses, health centres were cut off. We interviewed key stakeholders (n=15), undertook discussions with women and a household survey (n=462).

COVID-19 and floods have affected women’s lives and health. Women in the Nuer community were responsible for providing for the household, so if they failed they were likely to face abuse and violence. During the floods, women were not able to feed the family members’ as there was a food shortage in the entire community. Women resorted to local fishing without any equipment, foraging water lilies, seagrass and grinding them into flour for household consumption. 60.1% of female respondents said they did not use any menstrual hygiene materials while 17.6% reported they used old clothes or rags.

Within the wider social context, women in South Sudan have limited rights over their own sexual reproductive health. It is imperative to develop climate policies that address these gender concerns not by analysing gender with external standards or indicators. It should be localized supporting local gender practices through community acceptance and shifting of norms.