On 3rd December 2025, four students from the MSc. Geography of Environmental Risk and Human Security programme, offered jointly by United Nations University - Institute for Environment and Human Security, and theDeartment of Geography at the University of Bonn presented their research at the Twenty-third Session of the Committee for the Review of the Implementation of the Convention (CRIC 23), of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) in Panama. The students, Brenda Michael Mazumba, Josi Bregulla, Rukaia Parveen Tuba, and Elisha Acheampong Darko were invited following the successful completion of a commissioned student consultancy project conducted as part of their master’s studies. They presented their findings during the CRIC 23 Gender Caucus plenary session at the Panama Conference Center, contributing to international dialogue and strengthening global commitments to improve adaptation mechanisms and address gender-specific vulnerabilities related to sand and dust storms, an often-overlooked environmental risk.
Commissioned by UNCCD Gender Policy Officer Karen Elizabeth Benard and supervised by Dr. Saskia Werners and Samira Pfeiffer (UNU-EHS), the project examined the "Gender-differentiated Impacts of Sand and Dust storms (SDS)" through a comparative analysis of Mali, Egypt, and Australia. The findings highlighted how SDS disproportionately affect women and men due to differing gender roles, livelihoods, and access to resources. The transboundary nature of sand and dust storms in a changing climate, coupled with human induced factors that increases land degradation and desertification has increased the frequency and intensity of occurrence of SDS, resulting in extreme health, economic and social impacts. Therefore, UNCDD commissioned this scoping study to uncover the gendered dimensions of the natural hazard, identify coping and adaptation mechanisms, and assess data gaps that exist to inform policy and advance research.
Key findings from the research were identified gender roles which increases exposure to SDS. Women often experience higher exposure to SDS through domestic and caregiving responsibilities, while men are more exposed through outdoor and agricultural work. Whilst exposure level increases among genders, so does health implications and livelihood disruptions. Men and women face increased respiratory and cardiovascular risks. Women also encounter heightened maternal health risks, resulting in higher rates of infant mortality, maternal health conditions, and malnutrition among women due to lower consumption when SDS disrupts livelihood opportunities. Men often delay seeking medical care due to gender stereotypes of masculinity which compounds medical impacts. Further, SDS affect agriculture, small businesses, and informal labour differently, with male migration often increasing women’s economic and caregiving burdens. Despite these impacts, men and women have coped differently to SDS events. Women’s coping strategies are frequently informal and overlooked, and existing policies rarely integrate gender considerations effectively. On the other hand, not all coping or adaptation were noted to be effective. The researchers uncovered some negative coping mechanisms such as increased alcohol consumption among men which often increases domestic violence at homes.
Following the presentation of the research findings of the students, side events were organized to extensively discuss the project outcomes and impacts across various organizations. Included in the outcomes is the renewed commitments by the UNCCD to strengthen youth empowerment initiatives and expand women-led land restoration efforts. Discussions at the Youth Caucus emphasized closing gender gaps in land degradation responses, while exchanges with indigenous community representatives underscored the importance of indigenous knowledge in building climate resilience. Further, several delegates were keen to take up on their commitments, whiles scientific researchers were motivated to advance the study through the data gaps pointed out by the student researchers.
The students’ participation was supported by the University of Bonn, the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD-EPOS), and GIZ’s Global Project: Women’s Empowerment for Resilient Rural Areas (GV WE4R).
