Climate change impacts are not gender neutral. Across Africa, its effects deepen existing social inequalities, particularly for women and girls. Yet, data and evidence to inform gender-responsive climate actions have for a long time been a huge gap. In response to this gap, the AGNES, in collaboration with its partners, launched an initiative to map climate vulnerability through a gender lens at the granular level. Using a scalable framework rooted in IPCC frameworks, this initiative produced Gender and Climate Change Vulnerability Hotspot Maps. These are spatial tools that help in identifying where climate risks and gender inequalities intersect most severely. The hotspot mapping work have been conducted in Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Botswana and Ghana, providing countries with localized evidence to inform equitable climate adaptation and resilience strategies. Here’s how it all unfolded.
What Are Gender and Climate Change Vulnerability Hotspot Maps
These are digital tools that visualize areas with high climate risk, sensitivity to climate exposure and low adaptive capacity among women. Built on data around exposure, sensitivity, and adaptive capacity, the hotspot maps identify which sub-national regions, such as districts or counties, are most vulnerable. The maps illustrate how gender disparities compound the impacts of climate vulnerability at the sub-national level. They serve as evidence-based tools that support more inclusive climate planning and targeted adaptation responses.
Rwanda: Eastern Province Takes the Hit
Rwanda was the pilot country for the mapping model, and the results were eye-opening. Bugesera, Ruhango, and Huye districts, primarily in the Eastern and Southern Provinces, were flagged as hotspots. These areas exhibited high levels of climate stress combined with low adaptive capacity among women farmers. With rain-fed agriculture dominating local economies, climate variability has left women vulnerable to crop failures, income losses, and increased unpaid care work. The maps highlighted gaps in access to extension services, ICTs, and cooperatives—laying the groundwork for more inclusive agricultural support programs.
Kenya: Spotlight on ASAL Regions and Energy Burdens
In Kenya, the mapping covered the agriculture, water, and energy sectors. Arid and semi-arid counties, notably Turkana, Marsabit, Isiolo, and Garissa, emerged as the most vulnerable. These counties showed a critical combination of high climate exposure, poor infrastructure, and deep gender gaps in access to energy and agricultural resources. The Gender and Climate Change Vulnerability Hotspot Maps revealed that women bore the brunt of collecting firewood and fetching water, with longer distances and more time spent due to increased drought and deforestation.
Uganda: Eastern and Southwestern Districts Under Strain
Bukedea (Eastern region) and Ntungamo (Southwestern region) served as sample districts for ground truthing. Although they were not the most vulnerable districts in Uganda, women in these regions face acute food insecurity, limited access to land, and increased caregiving burdens as climate impacts intensified. To come to this conclusion, the study integrated quantitative mapping with qualitative fieldwork, including focus group discussions and mini surveys. Findings showed that despite women being the backbone of Uganda’s agricultural workforce, they had limited access to irrigation, credit, and decision-making platforms
Ghana: Northern Regions Most at Risk
In Ghana, the Northern, Upper West, and parts of Upper East regions stood out as gender-climate hotspots. Women in these areas face higher exposure to floods and droughts, compounded by land tenure insecurity and limited economic diversification. The Gender and Climate Change Vulnerability Hotspot Maps showed that although women form most of the agricultural labor in these zones, they lack the tools, training, and resources to adapt. These insights can be used to inform Ghana’s sectoral planning in agriculture, water, and energy.
Why These Mapping Tools Matter
These maps are more than just visuals. They are tools for:
- Targeted programming – Prioritize investments in areas where women are most affected
- Policy alignment – Strengthen gender integration in NDCs, NAPs, and sectoral plans
- Monitoring & evaluation – Track gender-responsive outcomes at the sub-national level\
- Stakeholder engagement – Support dialogue between government, communities, and civil society
- Climate finance/ budget allocation
The Gender and Climate Change Vulnerability Hotspot Maps are available as interactive web-based tools. They are designed to be used by government ministries, NGOs, researchers, development partners, and advocacy actors dedicated to climate justice and equitable action.
Conclusion
What started as a pilot in Rwanda is now a regional shift in how gender is understood in climate action. By translating data into insight, and insight into action, AGNES and its partners are helping countries build resilience where it’s needed most. Whether you’re a policymaker, practitioner, or advocate, the message is clear: use the maps. Make decisions that count. Because climate action without gender inclusion is not just incomplete—it’s ineffective.