Analysis of Gender Dimensions of Environmental Vulnerability to Flooding in Kogi State

Gender-differentiated vulnerability to flooding arises from structural inequalities in asset ownership, mobility, access to information, and decision-making authority that systematically limit women's capacity to prepare for, respond to, and recover from flood events. This study analyses gender dimensions of environmental vulnerability to flooding in flood-prone communities of Kogi State, a state regularly affected by Niger-Benue confluence flooding. A gendered vulnerability assessment framework was applied using mixed methods, combining structured household surveys with 250 respondents, in-depth interviews with 40 key informants, and six focus group discussions disaggregated by gender. Vulnerability indicators encompassing physical exposure, economic sensitivity, social capital, information access, and adaptive capacity were scored separately for male-headed and female-headed households. Intersectionality analysis further examines vulnerability variation across widowhood status, disability, and age dimensions. Quantitative analysis confirms that female-headed households display significantly higher vulnerability scores on economic sensitivity and adaptive capacity dimensions, though comparable physical exposure scores reflect shared residential location patterns. Female respondents demonstrate lower awareness of flood early warning services and lower participation in community flood preparedness meetings, attributable to cultural restrictions on women's participation in mixed public forums. Post-flood recovery trajectories are substantially longer for female-headed households due to limited insurance coverage, collateral-free credit access, and customary land tenure barriers. The study recommends gender-disaggregated flood risk planning, women-specific early warning communication channels, and gender-responsive post-disaster recovery programming by Kogi State Emergency Management Agency. Keywords: gender vulnerability, flooding, Kogi State, disaster risk reduction, intersectionality.