In the hills of South Kivu in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, communities harvest edible caterpillars from trees. But years of conflict have depleted these forests. For women who depend on them to feed their families and earn an income, the loss has been especially severe, leaving fewer ways to cope as insecurity and environmental degradation deepen. 

In crisis contexts, climate change is amplifying pressures that undermine peace and security. Droughts, floods and land degradation strain food systems and livelihoods, intensifying pressure on already scarce resources such as land and water, and increasing the risk of conflict. Conversely, in countries already affected by conflict, such climate shocks are deepening poverty, weakening institutions and making recovery even more difficult, creating a vicious cycle where climate stress and insecurity reinforce each other. 

It is estimated that 1.1 billion people live in multidimensional poverty, 40 percent of them in countries affected by conflict, fragility or low levels of peacefulness. At the same time, nearly 8 in 10 people who are living in multidimensional poverty--87 million out of 1.1 billion--are directly exposed to climate hazards such as extreme heat, flooding, drought and air pollution. 

Women face greater risks because they are more likely to rely on climate-sensitive livelihoods such as farming and forest produce collection, while having less access to land, finance and decision-making. As climate pressures and insecurity disrupt traditional livelihoods, men migrate in search of income or safety, leaving behind increasingly “feminized” communities where women assume expanded economic and social responsibilities, but without corresponding rights or protection.  

When livelihoods collapse or families are displaced, women and girls are also at greater risk of domestic and sexual violence, early marriage and other forms of exploitation. 

Yet these same shifts are opening spaces for women’s leadership, as they step forward to restore degraded ecosystems, rebuild livelihoods and strengthen social cohesion for more resilient communities.