Bank Accounts Help Sub-Saharan Women Weather Climate Shocks, Study Finds

A new study in Climate Risk Management analyzed 25,511 women-headed households across 37 sub-Saharan countries and found that formal financial access, such as owning a bank account, improves households' ability to withstand short-term climate shocks. However, the authors note that protecting against long-term vulnerabilities like droughts and floods requires pairing financial inclusion with broader efforts to reduce gender inequality. The findings carry policy implications for a region where many communities are highly exposed to climate disasters.

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The research draws on Afrobarometer survey responses covering more than 25,000 women-led households in 37 nations, applying the OECD's financial inclusion framework that considers bank accounts, mobile phone ownership, and internet connectivity. Co-author Francis Anais