15769 EFFECTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE ON RURAL WOMEN IN MAKHADO MUNICIPALITY, VHEMBE DISTRICT, LIMPOPO PROVINCE, SOUTH AFRICA Nyahunda Louis 1 & Tirivangasi Happy Mathew 2 1 Department of Social Work 2 Department of Research Administration and Development University of Limpopo South Africa Email: mathewtirivangasi@gmail.com Abstract The precarious effects of climate change burdens all humanity but not equally. Women are more encumbered by climate change impacts than men because they are highly dependent on the volatile natural resource base for their livelihood, have low adaptive capacity, high poverty levels, ascribed gender roles which limit their participation in climate change decision making processes aggravated by patriarchal dominance and acute inequalities. The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate how climate change is affecting rural women in Makhado municipality. This study adopted a qualitative methodology guided by multi-case study design. A sample of 60 participants were selected through simple random and purposive sampling techniques to participate in the study. Data was collected using focus group discussions and individual interviews and analysed thematically. The study established that climate change is encumbering women more than men in the agricultural, health, energy, water and livestock production sectors among others. The primary care provision role for women make them highly dependent on the above factors which are desiccating and, in most instances, scarce owing to climate change and variability. This study recommends that there is need for elimination of discrimination patterns that subject women to vulnerability to climate change. Furthermore, there is need for development of strong support systems to cushion rural women from the vagary impacts of climate change. Key words: Effects, climate change, rural women, Makhado municipality, South Africa Introduction The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC, 2014a) posits that climate change is projected to cause devastating effects globally by 2030 if it remains untreated. As for Nyahunda and Tirivangasi (2019), some communities are facing food insecurity, water scarcity and loss of livestock due to climate change and variability. Climate change impacts manifest through droughts, floods, extreme weather patterns (heat waves), amplified incidences of diseases, and heightened food and water insecurity which unevenly affect the world’s poor, majority of whom are women (Babungura, 2013; Baten & Khan, 2010). The effects of climate change impacting health, livelihoods, food and water are unevenly affecting the poor that is women and children (Department of Environmental Affairs, 2016; Mugambiwa & Tirivangasi, 2017). Women are prone to climate change impacts and this is aggravated by the fact that they are inherently reliant on the climate change ravaged natural resources for subsistence and for livelihoods (Teklewold, 2013). Baten and Khan (2010) posit that climate change is a global phenomenon disproportionally affecting humanity and women bear the brunt burden of its effects than men. In South Africa, climate change has been projected to scale up food insecurity and poverty levels amongst women in rural communities (Turpie & Visser, 2013). In most African countries, South Africa included, women are burden laddered by climate change impacts because of their dominance in the agricultural sector complemented by limited access to income generating opportunities as men (Söderström, 2015). Similarly, in Limpopo province, where this study was conducted, agriculture beacons the economy and it is the nucleus of the most rural households’ livelihoods. Rankoana (2016) posits that small-scale farming predominated by women is the fountain of rural economic development in the province. These small-scale farmers depend on natural resources which are being savaged by climate change hence heightening their level of vulnerability. The larger part of Limpopo province is rural, dominated by poor households practicing subsistence farming for household food production system. The effects of climate change are visible in the province manifesting through drought, heatwaves and floods. Makhado municipality which was the focal point of the study is situated in a semi-arid area experiencing recurring dry spells, leading to severe drought (Mpandeli & Gender & Behaviour, Vol. 18 No. 2, June 2020 15769 - 15778 Copyright 2020 © Ife Centre for Psychological Studies/Services, Nigeria ISSN: 1596-9231