In Malawi, agricultural production is still being disrupted and food insecurity is being exacerbated by recurring climate shocks, including droughts and erratic rainfall. Although government-led resilience programs have been implemented to empower vulnerable populations, their influence on the long-term economic empowerment of women is still limited by deeply ingrained social norms, particularly those associated with land ownership and decision-making authority within households.
A team of local PEP researchers discovered that resilience programs do indeed economically empower women; however, their advantages are transient in the presence of climate disruptions, such as drought. It is important to note that women in patrilineal communities, where they typically lack land rights, are initially able to engage in business with program support. However, their ventures often collapse when shocks strike. The researchers also discovered that the possession of formal land titles directly impacts the capacity of women to make decisions regarding land use or implement erosion control strategies—an area that is still largely governed by customary norms.
The most feasible and effective policy option among the three that were evaluated was the expansion of access to weather-indexed crop insurance. Nevertheless, its success is contingent upon the removal of social and cultural obstacles that impede women's involvement in financial decision-making. The sustainability of resilience efforts was also found to be enhanced by complementary education and skills training programs, particularly in patrilineal communities.
Find out more about the research methods, findings and policy recommendations in the following PEP publications
Working Paper coming soon | Policy Brief 291 | More about Women’s resilience and gender norms in
