A Comparative Analysis of Climate Vulnerability and Gendered Impacts on Women's Empowerment, Leadership, and Enterprise in South Sudan (2021–2026)

This comparative study examines the differential impacts of climate vulnerability on women’s empowerment, leadership, and enterprise in South Sudan between 2021 and 2026, with a specific focus on the energy sector. The research problem centres on how intensifying climate shocks, including unprecedented flooding and drought cycles, are exacerbating existing gender inequalities, thereby constraining women’s socio-economic and political advancement. Employing a mixed-methods approach, the study comparatively analyses survey data from 400 women-led enterprises across three agro-ecological zones with qualitative insights from focus group discussions and key informant interviews with female community leaders and entrepreneurs. Key findings reveal that climate-induced resource scarcity disproportionately increases women’s domestic labour burdens, limiting their time for political participation and enterprise development. Critically, the study identifies that women’s energy enterprises, particularly those in off-grid solar solutions, demonstrate enhanced resilience and act as a catalyst for broader empowerment, yet face significant barriers in accessing finance and technology. The research argues that without gender-responsive climate adaptation strategies integrated into national energy and economic policies, women’s progress will be systematically undermined. This study contributes an essential African perspective to interdisciplinary climate discourse, highlighting that supporting women’s leadership in the energy sector is not merely an equity issue but a foundational component of effective community adaptation and sustainable development in South Sudan.