Climate change poses serious risks in Malawi, where recurring droughts, floods, and changing rainfall patterns strongly affect agriculture and rural livelihoods. Women are highly exposed because many depend on small-scale farming but face structural barriers in access to land, finance, and insurance.

Commissioned by the Centre of Excellence on Gender-Smart Solutions in support of the Global Shield against Climate Risks, and authored by Oxford Policy Management, the report examines how Climate and Disaster Risk Finance and Insurance (CDRFI) can strengthen resilience by addressing gender-specific challenges and offering practical recommendations.

Drawing on research and stakeholder consultations, the study highlights key barriers such as limited access to financial services, low insurance coverage, digital gaps, unequal decision-making power, and weak availability of gender-disaggregated data. These factors reduce women’s access to effective risk management tools and limit the impact of existing CDRFI programmes, especially in rural communities dependent on rain-fed agriculture.

The report provides actionable recommendations to close these gaps, including the development of gender-responsive insurance products, stronger financial literacy and outreach, improved data systems, and better coordination between national institutions and local actors. By integrating gender-responsive approaches, Malawi can ensure that climate resilience efforts are inclusive, fair, and effective in protecting those most at risk from climate shocks.

This review focuses on how gender is integrated into CDRFI policies and programmes in Malawi, with particular attention to women, while also noting broader social inclusion challenges affecting other vulnerable groups exposed to climate-related disasters.