Africa’s climate adaptation ambitions could falter unless systemic barriers confronting women in agribusiness are addressed through a holistic policy approach, according to a new evidence-based brief by NexGen Deutsche-Afrik (NEDEA).
The report, titled The Gender Lens in Climate-Resilient Agribusiness, argues that despite forming the backbone of the agrifood workforce, women remain disproportionately exposed to climate shocks due to entrenched structural inequalities.
Women Dominate Workforce but Lack Ownership
Women account for approximately 76% of the agrifood workforce in Sub-Saharan Africa, yet their access to productive assets remains severely constrained.
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Using Tanzania as a case study, the report reveals that while women constitute 69% of the agricultural workforce, they own only 2% of registered land.
This disparity significantly limits access to:
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Agricultural technology
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Climate-resilient irrigation systems
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Extension services
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Formal credit facilities
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Climate adaptation training
Without land titles or collateral, women-led agribusinesses often struggle to secure financing and invest in resilience-building infrastructure.
Climate Vulnerability Is Systemic
Michael Osei, NEDEA Research Assistant and PhD candidate in Climate Change and Agriculture, stressed that resilience in agribusiness is not solely an environmental issue.
“The gendered nature of climate vulnerability is not incidental; it is systemic.”
The report underscores that climate shocks such as droughts and floods disproportionately affect women because of unequal access to capital, land, and institutional support. As a result, women-led enterprises frequently lack the financial buffers needed to withstand prolonged disruptions.
US$96 Billion Financing Gap
One of the report’s most striking findings is a US$96 billion financing gap for Africa’s agricultural SMEs, with women-led businesses facing the highest loan rejection rates.
Limited access to finance restricts women’s ability to:
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Adopt climate-smart technologies
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Scale agribusiness operations
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Diversify income streams
This financing shortfall undermines broader climate adaptation strategies across the continent.
Digital Divide Deepens Risk
The policy brief also highlights a significant digital gap. Women in Sub-Saharan Africa are nearly 30% less likely to use mobile internet, limiting access to:
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Early-warning weather alerts
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Market information
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Online agribusiness training
In a climate-volatile environment, lack of timely information can severely reduce preparedness and response capacity.
The Burden of Unpaid Labour
Climate-induced droughts and resource scarcity increase household burdens, particularly for women who shoulder disproportionate unpaid care responsibilities.
As water and food become harder to access, women spend more time on domestic tasks, leaving less time for agribusiness management or participation in adaptation training programmes.
This cycle reinforces vulnerability and weakens overall sector resilience.
Ghana–Germany Partnership and Policy Implications
As Ghana deepens agricultural cooperation with Germany through agencies such as Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) and the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), NEDEA argues that gender-responsive climate finance must be central to these partnerships.
The report recommends:
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De-risked credit lines for women-led agribusinesses
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Legal reforms to strengthen women’s land ownership rights
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Targeted digital inclusion initiatives
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Greater representation of women in climate governance structures
According to NEDEA, empowering women agripreneurs is not merely a social objective but a strategic economic investment.
A Strategic Investment in Africa’s Future
The brief concludes that strengthening women’s role in climate-resilient agribusiness is foundational to building a food-secure and economically stable Africa.
“Empowering women agripreneurs is not just a matter of fairness. It is a strategic investment in the continent’s future and the foundation of a food-secure Africa.”
As climate variability intensifies across the continent, addressing structural gender inequities may prove decisive in safeguarding Africa’s adaptation ambitions.
Source: Accra Business News
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