The role of good governance to tackle gender inequalities within natural hazard-related disasters

Natural hazards pose significant challenges to societies worldwide, disproportionately impacting vulnerable populations and exacerbating existing gender disparities. It is widely recognized that the effects of natural hazard-related disasters depend both on conditions of exposure and vulnerability to these events. Among these conditions, disparities in education, age, income, access to healthcare, and other forms of social inequality play a critical role in exacerbating the impacts of disasters. Consequently, the adoption of gender-sensitive approaches may help to more effectively address gender-specific needs within hazard and disaster risk management policies. This study aims to explore the interplay between good governance, natural hazards, and gender inequality. Our dataset includes 191 countries, spanning the period from 2017 to 2024 and examines whether countries with high levels of vulnerability to natural hazards experience heightened gender disparities, and the role of good governance. Our results could inform policymakers in their attempt to promote gender equality in the context of natural hazard-related disasters.