Climate change brings considerable risks to an already fragile economic and environmental situation in rural Egyptian women’s lives. The agriculture sector is largely comprised of women, with millions of them reliant on its economy for their livelihoods. Unfortunately, this sector is unstable and wages are, exacerbating existing conditions of poverty and environmental degradation. Women find themselves unable to exercise agency over land rights because they own only 5% of Egyptian land. This compromises their ability to make decisions about their lives, pursue educational opportunities and to understand basic financial literacy. It is estimated that 27 million women live in rural areas and of those millions, 32 percent are poor women working in agriculture. The average daily wage for a seasonal worker in Egypt is anywhere from $5-$8 a day and is usually lower for women compared to men. Food insecurity coupled with low wages, makes agriculture risky for already impoverished women. Photo Credit: Middle East Institute
