Mambwe District in Zambia faces recurring climate shocks—including floods, droughts, and pest outbreaks— that disproportionately affect women and other vulnerable groups. Nationally, over 60% of rural women rely on rain-fed agriculture, making them highly susceptible to climate variability. In Mambwe, female-headed households are 15% more likely to experience food insecurity during drought years, and women represent less than 20% of decision-makers in local disaster response committees referred to as Satellite Disaster Management Committees (SDMCs).

These disparities are compounded for people with disabilities (PWDs), who face systemic barriers to accessing early warning systems, relief and reconstruction services, and livelihood recovery programs. Global evidence confirms that disasters are not gender neutral: women and girls are 14 times more likely to die during climate disasters than men, according to UNDP estimates.