How Changing Weather Drives Gender-Based Violence in Somalia – The Borgen Project

Report on the Intersection of Climate Change, Gender-Based Violence, and Sustainable Development Goals in Somalia

Executive Summary

Climate-induced crises, including prolonged droughts and displacement, are exacerbating gender-based violence (GBV) in Somalia. This report analyzes the key drivers of this trend and evaluates programmatic responses through the lens of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The findings indicate that failures to achieve progress on goals related to water, food security, and sustainable communities directly heighten risks for women and girls, undermining SDG 5 (Gender Equality). Addressing GBV requires an integrated approach that combines climate adaptation with targeted interventions to protect and empower women, thereby advancing multiple SDGs simultaneously.

1. Water Scarcity and its Impact on SDG 5 and SDG 6

The lack of safe and accessible water is a critical factor increasing women’s vulnerability to violence, directly impeding progress on SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation).

Key Challenges

• Only 52% of Somalia’s population has access to basic water supplies.
• Women and girls are predominantly responsible for water collection, forcing them to travel long distances.
• These journeys expose them to a high risk of harassment, assault, and sexual violence, representing a significant barrier to achieving SDG 5 (Gender Equality).

Interventions and SDG Alignment

1. Infrastructure Development: Efforts by UNICEF and partners to extend pipelines, drill boreholes, and repair water systems bring water sources closer to communities.
2. Risk Reduction: Shorter travel distances for water collection reduce exposure to violence and allow more time for education and economic activities, contributing to SDG 4 (Quality Education) and SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth).

2. Displacement and Protection Risks in the Context of SDG 11

Climate shocks are a primary driver of internal displacement, leading to overcrowded camps where protection systems are weak. This situation directly challenges the objective of SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) to provide safe and adequate housing for all.

Vulnerabilities in Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) Camps

• In 2021, 93% of reported GBV survivors were women and children, with 74% of incidents occurring within displaced communities.
• Identified risk factors include cramped shelters, inadequate lighting, and unprotected latrines, which compromise privacy and safety.

Mitigation Strategies for Safer Communities

1. Safety Audits: Assessments in Baidoa identified poor lighting and insecure shelters as key vulnerabilities.
2. Practical Upgrades: The installation of lockable latrines, solar lighting, and improved fencing enhances both physical safety and personal dignity. These measures are crucial for creating the safe environments envisioned in SDG 11 and protecting the rights outlined in SDG 5.

3. Food Insecurity and Harmful Coping Mechanisms

The convergence of drought, conflict, and economic shocks erodes household resilience, creating conditions that contravene SDG 1 (No Poverty) and SDG 2 (Zero Hunger) and lead to an increase in GBV.

Consequences of Economic Hardship

• Families resort to harmful coping strategies, including child marriage and survival sex, to secure basic needs.
• Harmful traditional practices such as Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) are sometimes employed to increase a girl’s perceived “marriageability.”
• UNFPA data shows a spike in rape and intimate partner violence linked to scarcity and displacement.

Recommended Responses

To counteract these trends, humanitarian responses must integrate GBV risk mitigation. This includes:

• Implementing cash assistance programs with built-in protection measures.
• Ensuring food distribution points are safe and inclusive.
• Applying a gender analysis to all food security programs, a critical step for upholding SDG 5.

4. Inadequate Health Systems and Survivor Care: Gaps in Achieving SDG 3

Climate and conflict-related damage to infrastructure severely limits access to essential health services for GBV survivors, hindering the achievement of SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being).

Systemic Failures

• Damaged roads and clinics, particularly in rural areas and IDP camps, create physical barriers to accessing care.
• Significant gaps exist in the provision of clinical management of rape, case management, and Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS).

Institutional Solutions for Survivor-Centered Care

UNFPA’s establishment of One-Stop Centers and Women & Girls’ Safe Spaces provides a model for integrated care. These facilities offer:

1. Confidential, comprehensive services under one roof, from medical treatment to legal referrals.
2. A vital lifeline for survivors, ensuring access to protection and recovery pathways, which aligns with the principles of SDG 3 and SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions).

5. Women-Led Climate Adaptation as a Pathway to Achieving the SDGs

Empowering women to lead climate adaptation efforts is a powerful strategy for reducing GBV exposure while building community resilience, directly contributing to SDG 13 (Climate Action) and SDG 5.

Empowerment Initiatives

• Training women in solar energy installation, water system management, and climate-smart agriculture places them at the center of sustainable solutions.
• Programs like UNICEF’s Youth Empowerment Center in Dollow equip young women with technical skills, such as solar panel installation.
• UNDP initiatives to scale up water infrastructure are providing thousands of women-headed households with reliable water access.

Outcomes and SDG Contributions

These initiatives reduce the need for risky travel for resources like water and firewood. By enhancing women’s autonomy and economic standing, they advance SDG 5, SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy), and SDG 13 concurrently.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

The article on gender-based violence (GBV) in Somalia, driven by climate change, connects to several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The analysis identifies the following primary and related SDGs:

• SDG 5: Gender Equality: This is the central theme of the article. The text focuses on the “sharp rise in gender-based violence (GBV) in Somalia” and discusses various forms of violence against women and girls, including harassment, assault, sexual violence, rape, intimate partner violence (IPV), child marriage, and Female Genital Mutilation (FGM).
• SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation: The article explicitly links water scarcity to increased risks for women. It states that “Only 52% of people in Somalia have access to a basic water supply” and that the long journeys to fetch water expose women and girls to violence. It also highlights how “unprotected latrines” in displacement camps increase exposure to sexual violence.
• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being: The article frames the issue as a “public health crisis.” It discusses the health consequences of GBV, such as trauma and maternal health risks, and points to the failure of “shocked health systems” to provide adequate care for survivors, noting “gaps in rape treatment, case management and Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS).”
• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities: The issue of internal displacement is a major focus. The article describes how climate shocks push families into “overcrowded displacement camps” where “cramped shelters, poor lighting and unprotected latrines increase exposure to sexual violence.” This directly relates to the need for safe and inclusive human settlements.
• SDG 13: Climate Action: The article establishes a direct causal link between climate change and GBV. It repeatedly states that “prolonged droughts, failed rainy seasons and displacement” are the root causes, turning a “climate emergency into a public health crisis.”
• SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions: The prevalence of violence, assault, and rape discussed throughout the article directly relates to the goal of reducing all forms of violence. The provision of “legal referrals” at UNFPA’s One-Stop Centers also touches upon the need for access to justice for survivors.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

Based on the specific problems and solutions mentioned in the article, the following SDG targets can be identified:

1. Target 5.2: Eliminate all forms of violence against all women and girls in the public and private spheres, including trafficking and sexual and other types of exploitation. The article’s entire focus is on the rise of GBV, sexual violence, rape, and IPV against women and girls in Somalia.
2. Target 5.3: Eliminate all harmful practices, such as child, early and forced marriage and female genital mutilation. The article explicitly mentions that food insecurity drives harmful coping strategies, including “child marriage” and “Female genital mutilation (FGM).”
3. Target 6.1: By 2030, achieve universal and equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water for all. The article highlights that lack of access to a basic water supply forces women and girls to make long, risky journeys, and solutions involve bringing “water closer to homes” by extending pipelines and drilling boreholes.
4. Target 6.2: By 2030, achieve access to adequate and equitable sanitation and hygiene for all and end open defecation, paying special attention to the needs of women and girls and those in vulnerable situations. The article identifies “unprotected latrines” and a “lack of lockable latrines” in IDP camps as major risks for sexual violence.
5. Target 3.7: By 2030, ensure universal access to sexual and reproductive health-care services. The article points to “gaps in rape treatment” as a critical failure of the health system, directly relating to this target.
6. Target 11.1: By 2030, ensure access for all to adequate, safe and affordable housing and basic services and upgrade slums. The description of “overcrowded displacement camps” with “cramped shelters, poor lighting and unprotected latrines” directly addresses the need for safe living environments for displaced populations.
7. Target 16.1: Significantly reduce all forms of violence and related death rates everywhere. The core issue of the article is the “sharp rise in gender-based violence,” which this target aims to address.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

Yes, the article mentions several quantitative and qualitative indicators that can be used to measure progress:

• Indicator for Target 6.1: The article provides a baseline statistic: “Only 52% of people in Somalia have access to a basic water supply.” Progress can be measured by tracking the increase in this percentage.
• Indicator for Target 5.2: The article provides data on the prevalence and location of violence: “In 2021, Somali women and children made up 93% of reported GBV survivors” and “74% of reports came from displaced communities.” A reduction in these figures would indicate progress.
• Indicator for Target 11.1: The article implies qualitative indicators for safety in settlements. The presence or absence of “poor lighting,” “unprotected latrines,” and “secure shelters” can be audited. The implementation of solutions like “latrines equipped with locks and solar bulbs” serves as a positive progress indicator.
• Indicator for Target 5.3: The prevalence of “child marriage” and “Female genital mutilation (FGM)” are direct indicators. The article links these practices to food insecurity, suggesting that tracking their rates, especially during droughts, is crucial.
• Indicator for Target 3.7: The article points to a lack of services as an indicator of need, mentioning “gaps in rape treatment, case management and Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS).” The establishment and operational capacity of facilities like UNFPA’s “One-Stop Centers” and “Women & Girls’ Safe Spaces” can be used as an indicator of improved access to survivor care.

4. Summary Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: borgenproject.org