Gender-Based Violence and Social Protection Gaps During Urban Flooding in Coastal Mozambique

African Journal of Gender and Women Studies | Vol. 11, No. 2, February 2026 | pp. 57–64
DOI: 10.46882/2026/AJGWS/000203

Research Article

Gender-Based Violence and Social Protection Gaps During Urban Flooding in Coastal Mozambique

Ana Macamo¹, Carlos Sitoe²

¹Department of Geography, Eduardo Mondlane University, Maputo, Mozambique
²Center for Disaster Resilience, Beira, Mozambique

Abstract: Extreme weather events in coastal Mozambique exacerbate pre-existing gender inequalities and escalate risks of gender-based violence (GBV) within temporary displacement shelters. This empirical study investigates the structural gaps in post-flood humanitarian response frameworks regarding female protection in Beira and Quelimane. Utilizing participatory rural appraisal techniques and key informant interviews with 40 shelter managers and 200 displaced women, we documented security, sanitation, and resource distribution dynamics. Findings show that 64.0 percent of female respondents reported feeling unsafe in communal washing and sleeping facilities due to inadequate lighting and lack of gender-segregated layouts. Furthermore, transactional sex for food rations was documented in 5 out of 12 assessed camps. The research emphasizes that disaster risk management policies must integrate mandatory safety audits, female-led camp committees, and immediate psychological first aid tailored to survivors of violence during climate-induced displacements.

Keywords: Gender-based violence, urban flooding, climate displacement, humanitarian response, Mozambique

Manuscript Timeline: Received: November 28, 2025; Revised: December 22, 2025; Accepted: January 12, 2026; Published: February 15, 2026

Citation: Macamo, A., & Sitoe, C. (2026). Gender-Based Violence and Social Protection Gaps During Urban Flooding in Coastal Mozambique. African Journal of Gender and Women Studies, 11(2), 57–64. DOI: 10.46882/2026/AJGWS/000203

Subscribe to read the full article: https://www.internationalscholarsjournals.org/subscribe-to-read