A Mixed-Methods Study of Water Scarcity, Conflict Mitigation and Gendered Livelihoods in the Libyan Nile Basin, 2021–2026

This mixed-methods study investigates the complex interplay between water scarcity, conflict mitigation, and gendered livelihood impacts in the Libyan Nile Basin from 2021 to 2026. It addresses the critical problem of how escalating water stress, exacerbated by political instability and climate variability, reshapes local conflict dynamics and disproportionately burdens women. Their roles in household water procurement and agricultural labour are essential yet systematically undervalued. Methodologically, the research employs a rigorous, convergent design, integrating quantitative data from a structured survey of 300 households across three agro-ecological zones with qualitative insights from 45 in-depth interviews and focus group discussions with female farmers, community leaders, and water committee members. Triangulated findings demonstrate that formal conflict mitigation mechanisms are largely fragmented, forcing a reliance on informal, kinship-based negotiations. Crucially, these local adaptations often entrench gender inequalities, as women’s increased labour burden is rarely acknowledged within decision-making forums. The study concludes that effective and equitable water governance must be fundamentally reconfigured to address these gendered realities. Its significance lies in offering an empirically grounded, African-centred analysis that challenges gender-blind policy frameworks, advocating for interventions which recognise women as essential agents in sustainable conflict mitigation and livelihood resilience.