Women's evolving livelihoods and shifting gender norms in Western Bahr el Ghazal State, South Sudan

The report investigates how women in crisis-affected pastoralist and farming communities diversify and adapt their livelihoods through bricolage.

Abstract

Investigates how women in crisis-affected pastoralist and farming communities in rural and peri-urban locations in Wau and Jur River counties diversify and adapt their livelihoods through bricolage (the creative combination of various small-scale income activities). It seeks to uncover the key enablers and barriers to these strategies, assess their impact on gender norms and household decision-making, and generate insights to guide humanitarian and development interventions that enhance women’s resilience and empowerment.

This work is part of the Supporting Pastoralism and Agriculture in Recurrent and Protracted Crises (SPARC) programme.

Citation

Bedelian C and others. ‘Women’s evolving livelihoods and shifting gender norms in Western Bahr el Ghazal State, South Sudan’ Technical Report, London, UK: SPARC, 2025

Women’s evolving livelihoods and shifting gender norms in Western Bahr el Ghazal State, South Sudan

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Published 6 February 2026