Grassroots Journal of Natural Resources

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VOLUME 9, ISSUE 2 (AUGUST 2026) | Grassroots Journal of Natural Resources

Coordinated and published by The Grassroots Institute, the Grassroots Journal of Natural Resources (GJNR) is an international journal dedicated to the latest advancements in natural resources throughout the world. The goal of this journal is to provide a platform for scientists, social scientists, policy analysts, managers and practitioners (on all academic and professional levels) all over the world to promote, discuss and share various new issues and developments in different arenas of natural resources.

VOLUME 9, ISSUE 2 (AUGUST 2026)

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M – 00653Review Article

Addressing the Digital Gender Gap in Empowering Women for Climate Resilience in Africa

Onyinyechi Lilian Uche

Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies, Nigeria, & Ismail Mahomed Centre for Human and People’s Rights, Climate Change and the Rule of Law (CCRL), University of Venda, Thohoyandou, South Africa.

Email: lilianuche1@gmail.com, lilian.uche@univen.ac.za ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6463-4318

Grassroots Journal of Natural Resources, 9(2): 137-157. Doi: https://doi.org/10.33002/nr2581.6853.090206

Received: 26 July 2026

Reviewed: 27 August 2026

Provisionally Accepted: 28 August 2026

Revised: 28 August 2026

Finally Accepted: 29 August 2026

Published: 31 August 2026


                                    

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Ethical Declarations

ABSTRACT

Africa confronts a double jeopardy: it endures significant climate change impacts and suffers from one of the world's widest digital gender gaps. This article argues that closing the digital gender gap is not merely an aspiration but a prerequisite for effective women-led climate resilience across Africa. By analysing case studies from Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Ethiopia, and Mozambique, the paper reveals that limited digital access restricts women's involvement in climate decision-making, undermines agricultural adaptation, and limits access to early warning systems and financial resources. It further examines key legal frameworks, including CEDAW, the Maputo Protocol, and the Sustainable Development Goals, which mandate that states and stakeholders promote digital inclusion. Methodologically, this article adopts a doctrinal legal analysis of the international, regional, and domestic instruments bearing on the digital gender gap, combined with a qualitative synthesis of secondary case-study literature, policy reports, and empirical studies drawn from the 5 focus countries. The paper concludes with innovative recommendations for policymakers and the private sector, focusing on leveraging technology to enhance women’s digital literacy, creating inclusive digital platforms for climate adaptation, and fostering public-private partnerships to ensure sustainable funding. These strategies aim to integrate digital access into climate-resilience frameworks in a transformative manner, ultimately empowering women as key agents in addressing climate change.

Keywords

Digital gender gap; Climate resilience; Women’s empowerment; Africa; ICT; Human rights; SDGs

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HOW TO CITE THIS PAPER?
Harvard Style

Uche, O.L. (2026). Addressing the Digital Gender Gap in Empowering Women for Climate Resilience in Africa. Grassroots Journal of Natural Resources, 9(2): 137-157. Doi: https://doi.org/10.33002/nr2581.6853.090206

APA Style

Uche, O. L. (2026). Addressing the Digital Gender Gap in Empowering Women for Climate Resilience in Africa. Grassroots Journal of Natural Resources, 9(2), 137-157. https://doi.org/10.33002/nr2581.6853.090206

ACS Style

Uche O. L. Addressing the Digital Gender Gap in Empowering Women for Climate Resilience in Africa. Grassroots Journal of Natural Resources, 2026, 9 (2), 137-157. https://doi.org/10.33002/nr2581.6853.090206

Chicago/Turabian Style

Uche, Onyinyechi Lilian. 2026. “Addressing the Digital Gender Gap in Empowering Women for Climate Resilience in Africa”. Grassroots Journal of Natural Resources, 9 no. 2: 137-157. https://doi.org/10.33002/nr2581.6853.090206

AAA Style

Uche, Onyinyechi Lilian. 2026. “Addressing the Digital Gender Gap in Empowering Women for Climate Resilience in Africa”. Grassroots Journal of Natural Resources, 9 (2): 137-157. https://doi.org/10.33002/nr2581.6853.090206

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