Abstract
Climate change-induced water scarcity in Africa is magnifying pre-existing gender
inequalities, particularly in urban settings where women disproportionately shoulder
the burden due to socio-cultural roles and economic marginalisation. This qualitative
case study, grounded in Social-Ecological Resilience Theory, explored the gendered
dimensions of water insecurity and adaptive strategies among low-income women in
Makokoba, one of Bulawayo’s oldest high-density suburbs. Drawing on insights from
30 in-depth interviews, 8 key informants, and 2 focus group discussions with women
aged 18 to 60 years, the study identified four critical vulnerability domains: the
feminisation of water collection, deteriorating urban water infrastructure, socioeconomic
precarity, and limited climate risk awareness. In navigating these
challenges, women employ a spectrum of adaptive strategies, including water
rationing, informal rotational water collection systems, grey-water reuse, and
community-based water-sharing networks. Although these practices reflect agency
and resilience, they remain largely informal, inequitable, and unsustainable without
institutional support. The findings highlight a persistent gap between policy
frameworks and lived experiences, with many water governance policies failing to
address gender-specific needs. The study calls for urgent investment in genderresponsive
infrastructure, inclusive water governance, and locally grounded capacitybuilding
interventions. By centring women’s voices and everyday realities, this
research contributes to broader discourses on equitable urban climate adaptation and
resilience in Southern Africa.