Gender disparities in Nigeria are pronounced across various dimensions, with women and girls often facing greater socio-economic and cultural barriers that exacerbate their vulnerability to disasters. For instance, women account for 49.5% of Nigeria’s population but remain disproportionately affected by poverty, limited access to education, and restricted economic opportunities (National Bureau of Statistics, 2020).

In view of these, the African Risk Capacity (ARC) Agency and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) signed an agreement Investment Grant on “Gender Responsive Mechanisms for Epidemic Preparedness in ECOWAS to support the member countries of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to provide rapid and appropriate gender-sensitive responses to disease outbreaks and epidemics in the region.
Under the direction of the ARC O&E and Gender Units and the support of the Country Engagement Managers, a Gender analysis, looking at the linkages between Gender, Health Emergency and Disaster Risk Management in Nigeria was conducted. The Terms of References included an in-depth gender analysis of the health sector from the Disaster Risk Management and Financing (DRM&F) perspective. The analysis aimed to identify gaps & challenges and proposed recommendations for gender integration in DRM&F towards gender transformation of the sector in Nigeria.
With a targeted approach, the project aims to enhance gender-responsive mechanisms for Disaster and Risk preparedness, response and post-disaster Management in selected countries, placing particular emphasis on Nigeria. The backdrop of this initiative is entwined into the fabric of Nigeria’s socio-economic challenges, cultural diversity, and susceptibility to climate-induced hazards and DRM&F.

Key Findings

• Perception of Gender Neutrality : Most leadership positions during disasters are influenced by traditional gender roles, indicating a prevalent perception of gender neutrality within the DRM&F sector.
• Preference for Male Leadership : There is preference for male leadership during disasters, highlighting a gender bias that could hinder achieving gender diversity in critical leadership roles.
• Flexibility in Role Assignment : Half of all the Stakeholders are in agreements on whether roles during disaster response are skill-based or conform to traditional gender norms, suggesting a need for improvement in promoting skill-based assignments in DRM.
• Perceived Impact of Gender Dynamics : Resource access during disasters are more challenging for women and people with varying challenges, hence the urgency for and of inclusivity and addressing gender disparities in resource allocation strategies.
• Awareness and Implementation of Gender-Responsive Measures : While awareness of existing gender-responsive measures is high, their limited integration into DRM&F policies and strategies rated ≤3 (on a scale of 1-10) signals a critical gap.
• Challenges in Addressing Gender Disparities : Identified challenges include inadequate resources for gender-sensitive interventions and insufficient training on gender integration for emergency responders.
• Effectiveness of Gender-Responsive Measures : Though most of the stakeholders perceive existing gender-responsive measures to be effective, only a few report observable improvements in the resilience of vulnerable groups.

Policy Recommendations

Addressing gender disparities in Disaster Risk Management and financing is imperative for building resilience and promoting inclusivity in disaster response efforts in Nigeria. Implementing the recommended policy actions will pave the way for a more equitable, responsive, and resilient approach to disaster risk management and financing, ensuring that no one is left behind in times of crisis.