Empowering Women Climate Migrants: From Global insights to Local Impact
Owakila Tabassum Mumu, Consultant, SheEqual; & Dr. Nusrat Hafiz, Assistant Professor & Director of Women Empowerment Cell, BRAC Business School, BRAC University, Bangladesh
As climate change drives more frequent and severe environmental disasters, the more vulnerable communities are increasingly displaced. According to the UNDP, climate change disproportionately impacts women due to intersecting factors like gender, socio-economic status, ethnicity, and age. Female migrants often face involuntary migration, a forced movement that leaves them vulnerable and without control. This lack of decision-making power compounds their vulnerability and creates barriers at each stage of their migration journey. To address their needs, it’s essential to recognize these unique struggles and adopt empowerment-centered responses.
Women climate migrants in Bangladesh face compounded challenges from environmental pressures and deep-rooted social inequities. Although global policies like the Paris Agreement recognize gendered vulnerabilities, many frameworks lack actionable steps to protect and empower these women. In Bangladesh, a country highly vulnerable to disasters such as cyclones and floods, climate change intersects with gender and socio-economic issues. Rising sea levels and increased cyclone frequency drive migration from rural coastal areas to urban centers like Dhaka, where women are especially at risk due to social and economic disparities, limited education, restricted access to financial resources, and minimal representation in decision-making.
Women migrants face numerous challenges in these contexts. Economically, they are often relegated to informal work, which offers low wages and lacks security or social safety nets. Socially, restrictive gender norms limit their mobility and choices, confining them to unpaid caregiving roles that hinder skill development and participation in host communities. Additionally, poor housing conditions, limited access to healthcare, and increased risks of gender-based violence (GBV) exacerbate health challenges, highlighting the urgent need for inclusive policies and community interventions that prioritize women’s rights and well-being.
To empower women climate migrants and shift them from marginalization to agency, Bangladesh’s climate adaptation policies must adopt a gender-responsive approach. This approach should focus on dismantling barriers to women’s agency and actively fostering their resilience-building capacities. Key areas for intervention may include the following approaches:
First, empowering women economically is vital for their resilience. Financial inclusion through microcredit programs, skills training, and access to formal financial services can foster economic autonomy for women climate migrants. Programs that focus on employable skills—such as digital literacy, entrepreneurship, and vocational training tailored to local job markets—will enable these women to secure more stable and higher-paying employment, ultimately supporting long-term financial stability.
Second, access to quality healthcare is essential for empowering women climate migrants. Expanding healthcare services in underserved urban areas, particularly in reproductive, mental health, and preventive care, would help mitigate health risks. Additionally, addressing housing instability through affordable and safe shelters can provide women with a stable foundation to pursue education, employment, and community involvement.
Third, women climate migrants frequently encounter significant legal challenges, particularly in securing residency rights and accessing public services. Providing official documentation, legal residency, and anti-discrimination protections can enhance their safety and integration prospects. Additionally, social security measures—such as housing assistance, healthcare subsidies, and gender-sensitive community programs—are essential for supporting the dignity and well-being of women migrants throughout their migration experience.
Fourth, valuing women’s traditional knowledge and skills is vital. Women climate migrants possess valuable adaptive knowledge in areas like resource management and sustainable agriculture. Recognizing and integrating these skills into local adaptation programs can enhance community resilience and affirm women’s agency. By including women in climate adaptation initiatives, we get to leverage their expertise besides shifting the perception of female migrants from passive recipients to active contributors in resilience-building.
Closing the gap between global acknowledgment and local impact requires integrating gender-sensitive policies into Bangladesh’s national climate adaptation strategies. International frameworks should move from merely recognizing women’s vulnerabilities to implementing enforceable protections. The effort should also involve creating opportunities for their active participation in adaptation efforts.
Bangladesh has the opportunity to lead by example, shifting narratives around female migrants to reflect their resilience, skills, and contributions. Empowering women climate migrants in Bangladesh aligns with both SDG 5 (Gender Equality) and SDG 13 (Climate Action). Recognizing their unique needs and strengths contributes to equitable social development and enhanced climate resilience, building a foundation for a more inclusive, sustainable future. Through inclusive, gender-responsive policy measures and a shift in perception from vulnerability to agency, Bangladesh can champion the role of women climate migrants as essential agents of change in the face of climate adversity.
