Dineo Seabe

The Psychosocial Impacts of Flooding on Women in informal settlements in South Africa

Description: This research aims to understand the impact of flooding on the psychological and social well-being of women living in informal settlements in Cape Town, South Africa. Cape Town is increasingly experiencing heavy rains due to climate change causing floods around the city, especially in marginalised areas. As a result, this has caused loss and damage among the most vulnerable groups living in impoverished areas in informal settlements characterised by poor quality housing and lack of infrastructure. These areas face high levels of deprivation, health and other social issues, which are exacerbated by climate change. The women in these areas are especially vulnerable to the impact of flooding caused by climate change due to their vulnerability to gender-based violence, exclusion from the mainstream economy and reliance on the informal economy for their livelihood, which is impacted during times of flooding. Additionally, women also face negative psychological and social consequences due to loss of safety when floods damage their houses and surrounding infrastructure. This research aims to interrogate the different forms of loss and damage faced by women to inform more gender-sensitive climate change policies and programmes.