GENDER DYNAMICS IN CLIMATE-INDUCED DISPLACEMENT: EXPLORING THE LIVED EXPERIENCES OF INTERNALLY DISPLACED WOMEN IN NORTH-CENTRAL NIGERIA

Abstract

Climate-induced displacement disproportionately affects women by intensifying existing socioeconomic inequalities and protection vulnerabilities, particularly in developing countries. This study investigated the gender dynamics of climate-induced displacement among internally displaced women in North-Central Nigeria. A cross-sectional survey design was adopted. The target population comprised 12,200 internally displaced women residing in officially recognised IDP camps and host communities in Benue, Nasarawa, and Plateau States. A sample of 410 respondents, determined using Cochran's formula, was selected through a multistage sampling technique. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire and analysed using descriptive statistics (mean and standard deviation) and multiple linear regression at the 0.05 level of significance. The findings revealed that climate-induced displacement had significant socioeconomic consequences, including reduced household income, livelihood loss, food insecurity, and increased financial vulnerability. Respondents also experienced considerable gender-related protection challenges, such as heightened exposure to insecurity, inadequate protection services, and limited participation in decision-making. Although internally displaced women demonstrated resilience through livelihood diversification, community support networks, indigenous coping strategies, and skills acquisition, institutional support was generally perceived as inadequate. Regression analysis further showed that institutional support had a significant positive influence on the resilience of internally displaced women (β = 0.618, P< 0.05). The study concludes that strengthening gender-responsive institutional support, livelihood restoration programmes, social protection, and climate adaptation initiatives is essential for enhancing the resilience and well-being of internally displaced women. The findings provide empirical evidence to inform gender-sensitive climate adaptation, humanitarian response, and displacement policies in Nigeria and other climate-vulnerable settings.