A Systematic Review of Climate Change, Heat Stress, and Gendered Financial Impacts on Women in Juba, South Sudan

This systematic literature review synthesises evidence to examine the nexus between climate change, heat stress, and the gendered financial impacts on women in urban South Sudan, with a focus on Juba. It addresses a critical evidence gap by investigating how heat stress, within the specific context of South Sudan’s urbanisation and fragile statehood, intersects with pre-existing gender inequalities to shape financial vulnerability. The review is guided by explicit research questions concerning the pathways through which extreme heat affects women’s livelihoods, the role of energy access in mediating these impacts, and the adequacy of current policy responses.

Methodologically, the review adheres to PRISMA guidelines. A comprehensive search strategy was executed across academic databases and grey literature sources for the period 2021–2025, using predefined keywords. A transparent screening process, based on explicit inclusion and exclusion criteria, was followed by data extraction and thematic synthesis.

Key findings reveal that extreme heat directly impedes women’s productivity in prevalent livelihoods, such as street food vending and market trade, while increasing domestic energy burdens for cooling and water. Financial impacts are exacerbated by gendered norms restricting asset ownership and access to adaptive technologies, including clean energy. The analysis concludes that prevailing climate adaptation strategies frequently overlook these intersectional vulnerabilities. This review’s significance lies in its contribution to a gendered understanding of urban climate economics in fragile settings, underscoring the imperative for gender-responsive energy policies and finance mechanisms to build resilience.