Bridging the Climate-Gender-Health Nexus

The consequences of climate change are being felt more intensely worldwide, threatening loss of livelihoods and mass displacement, particularly for those least responsible for the crisis. Extreme weather events—floods, droughts, and storms—destroy healthcare facilities and disrupt essential services, leaving vulnerable communities unprepared to respond. These challenges disproportionately impact women's and girls’ health and urgent action is necessary. Without collective action, progress on health and development goals—especially regarding women's and girls’ sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR)—will be undermined.

As of early 2025, numerous initiatives are working to increase cross-sectoral collaboration between gender and climate, and health and climate. While this integration across the climate-gender-health sectors is a positive step, challenges remain and organizations continue to be largely underfunded. To raise awareness of how climate change uniquely impacts women's and girls' health, Panorama Global has been working to support and scale advocates’ and NGOs’ work at the nexus of climate and SRHR.

Theory of Change

This illustrative Theory of Change outlines potential pathways to impact across five investment pillars. The climate-SRHR movement is still in the early stages and this Funder's Starter Guide aims to foster collaboration across sectors. The Theory of Change and suggested investment pillars are, therefore, non-exhaustive, as further work is needed to strengthen the evidence base and raise awareness to enable more effective adaptation by health and community systems to climate change.