The Gendered Impacts of Climate Change on Fisherfolk: Evidence from Nigeria and Cameroon

Coastal communities in developing countries depend heavily on natural resources for their livelihoods, rendering them particularly vulnerable to climate change and environmental disruption. Efforts to strengthen adaptive capacity often overlook the role of gender relations and socioeconomic inequalities that shape vulnerability. This study examines how small-scale fishing communities in Limbe, Cameroon, and Makoko, Nigeria, respond to climate change through gender-differentiated vulnerability, coping, and adaptation strategies. Using mixed-methods research design informed by the Sustainable Livelihoods Framework, the study assesses the resilience and livelihood needs of fisherfolk. The findings show that fisherfolk employ a diverse and interconnected set of coping and adaptation strategies shaped by access to resources, skills, beliefs, socio-cultural contexts, and prior experiences of environmental stress. These strategies span economic, physiological, social, institutional, religious, and psychological dimensions. However, climate change impacts women fisherfolk more severely than men across five key livelihood domains. Despite growing recognition of gendered climate vulnerability, the absence of gender-disaggregated data continues to constrain the development of effective, gender-responsive adaptation measures among fishing communities. The study identifies priority areas for action and calls for greater consensus on gender-sensitive approaches, emphasizing the need to enhance women’s participation in decision-making and policy formulation related to climate adaptation.