Climate change does not affect everyone equally. Floods, declining harvests, and income loss tend to fall hardest on those who rely most on land, water, and informal livelihoods, and on those with the least room to recover when disaster strikes. In many rural communities across Lao PDR, the burden often falls on women. As the caregivers, farmers, and managers of household survival, they absorb the first shock and shoulder the longest recovery. 

At the same time, they navigate these pressures through adaptive knowledge, community solidarity, and household-level resilience strategies. The stories of Mae Noi in Ban Namphou village and the women of Solonoy village show what that looks like in practice, when women lead climate resilience from the ground up.

Mae Noi: From surviving floods to shaping community resilience

In Ban Namphou, Khammouane Province, floods are neither rare nor gentle. They come fast and loud, swallowing crops, livestock, savings, and often hope, in a matter of minutes. 

Mae Noi, 52-year-old, leads a household on her own. She farms a small plot, manages her home, and raises her family. Her life has long been defined by service: as a village health volunteer and a member of the village bank committee, helping families, especially women, access small loans. When her husband, the village chief, passed away years ago, her responsibilities multiplied overnight. Survival left little room for anything else. 

She remembers the devastating flood of 2011: “It came so fast...seven centimeters in ten minutes”. In its aftermath, harvests failed, and she often worked others’ fields just to secure enough rice to feed her children.

These experiences shaped Mae Noi’s perspective. When discussions began about strengthening community resilience, she advocated for what families like hers needed most: access to finance. 

Reviving the village bank was not just a financial decision. It was a pathway to recovery and dignity. Affordable credit gave families options in times of crisis, reducing the risk of long-term debt and enabling faster recovery. 

Today, Ban Namphou is better prepared, with early-warning systems, restored irrigation, and a functioning village bank. These gains did not happen by chance. They are rooted in the lived experience and leadership of women like Mae Noi, who have turned hardship into action and resilience.

Cracker of Resilience: Crushing rice, breaking barriers 

In Solonoy village, the day begins with the rhythmic pounding of rice, an essential step in making Khanom Hu Xang, the traditional rice crackers that now sustain the community.  What began as a small activity has grown into a livelihood for 30-40 families, led women. 

As climate change disrupts farming and reduces rice yields, rice cracker production offers an important way to diversify income and strengthen resilience. But not everyone has been able to benefit equally. 

Rice crackers might look light and airy but their production is physically demanding.  Traditionally, men crush the rice while women shape, dry, and sell the crackers. For women without male family members to help with the heavy labor, participation has been limited, reinforcing existing inequalities. 

When asked what would make a difference, the women of Solonoy were clear: a rice‑cracker processing machine. With this simple technology, dependence on manual labour was reduced. Women who had previously been excluded – widows, caregivers, and those without support - could now fully participate. 

The results extended beyond productivity. Women organized themselves, created a group fund to maintain the equipment, and ensured that the most vulnerable could also benefit. Knowledge was shared, roles became more flexible, and a women-led micro-enterprise emerged.

What changed was not who these women are, but what they could do. With the right support, they built a more inclusive, adaptable livelihood model that allows them to withstand to climate pressures while ensuring no one is left behind. 

Women don’t wait. They Build.

Climate resilience is often measured in infrastructure and investment. Along the Mekong, it is also measured in the determination of women who claim their right to participate, decide, and lead. 

The stories of Mae Noi and the women of Solonoy demonstrate that gender equality is not separate from climate action, it is central to it. When women have access to resources, and a voice in decision-making, entire communities move forward. 

Women’s empowerment is not an add-on to resilience; it is its foundation. 

This progress is made possible through strong partnerships. With the generous support of the Government of the Republic of Korea, the ROK Mekong project, implemented by UNDP in partnership with the Government of Lao PDR, works alongside communities to ensure that women’s leadership remains at the heart of climate resilience efforts.

Author: Lattanee Inthilath, Gender Equality and Social Inclusion Analyst