Climate-Induced Gender-Based Violence and Mental Health in Africa: An Overarching Impact on the Sub-Saharan Pastoralist Communities

Africa has an expanding population, which, coupled with the climate crisis, has led to an increased strain on its limited resources. Poor mental health outcomes linked to climate change are on the rise, especially amongst the pastoralist communities who occupy the arid and semiarid lands (ASALs) of the continent. Pastoralists, who depend on livestock for their livelihood, are highly dependent on pasture and water, but, with the unpredictable weather patterns, they undergo stress related to lack of pasture and water, loss of animals, increased migration, and conflicts within themselves and other communities. This chapter highlights the key drivers of climate-induced gender-based violence (GBV) amongst this patriarchal population while the intersection between climate-induced GBV and mental health has been pointed out. Some of the recommendations highlighted include having gender-based climate change policies, providing pastoralists with access to mental health services, and offering community-based interventions on climate-induced GBV and climate adaptation strategies, specifically targeting women, which would result in an increase in food and water security at the household level.