Building resilience: Supporting women through crisis and recovery

Across Malawi, Zambia, and Zimbabwe, millions of women are striving to create better futures for themselves and their families, working tirelessly to break free from poverty.

Poverty is inextricably intertwined with gender inequality. Women face unique barriers, including systemic discrimination that limits their access to education, employment opportunities, land-ownership and essential financial resources. These challenges are further exacerbated by climate change. Women, especially those in rural areas, are disproportionately affected by climate shocks. The recent El Niño-induced drought in Southern Africa has pushed many into extreme poverty.

Women are often responsible for water collection, food production, and caregiving, making them more susceptible to environmental disasters like droughts, floods, and crop failures. These overlapping crises hinder women’s ability to escape poverty, and without concerted efforts to address them, the cycle of vulnerability will continue to persist, preventing long-term development and equality in the region.

£25 will give a woman a start-up loan to build a small business.

£120 will support a woman with loans and ongoing training for a whole year.