Climate Change, Gender, and Governance: A Multisectoral Analysis of South Sudan’s Vulnerable Regions (2021–2026)

This commentary provides a multisectoral analysis of the gendered impacts of climate change in South Sudan’s vulnerable regions—Juba, Western Equatoria, Jonglei, and Eastern Equatoria—between 2021 and 2026. It argues that prevailing governance and energy frameworks inadequately address the disproportionate burdens borne by women, thereby exacerbating their vulnerability and undermining broader climate resilience. The analysis employs a qualitative synthesis of recent field reports, policy documents, and environmental data, examining intersections between climatic stressors, gender roles, and institutional responses. Key findings indicate that intensified flooding and drought have critically increased women’s labour in water and fuel collection, a situation intensified by the near-total reliance on biomass for energy. This not only compounds health and safety risks but also restricts women’s engagement in livelihood and political processes. The commentary contends that the political and financial governance of climate adaptation and the energy sector remains largely gender-blind, failing to integrate women’s knowledge or target their specific needs. The significance lies in demonstrating that effective climate action in South Sudan, and by extension similar African contexts, necessitates a fundamental reorientation of governance to prioritise gender-responsive energy transitions and inclusive political participation. This is imperative for achieving equitable and sustainable resilience.