Climate Disasters, Gender, and Poverty: Toward Inclusive Disaster Response in Bolivia

Using data from social accounting matrices and household surveys, this study introduces a gender-aware economywide model to evaluate the effects of climate disasters and mitigation policies in Bolivia. The study conducts an ex-post simulation based on the 2013–14 disaster shocks and four policy scenarios and results show a 1.05 percent GDP decline and 1.24 percent decline in consumption in female-headed households. Employment losses were greater for women, and unpaid domestic work increased across all regions. Although reconstruction policies improved macroeconomic conditions, they failed to reduce poverty or gender inequality. Only a combined policy package including public investment, cash transfers, and production subsidies, effectively mitigated losses and narrowed gender disparities. These findings underscore the need for a multi-dimensional, inclusive approach to address the differentiated vulnerabilities of women and ensure that post-disaster recovery contributes to long-term resilience and social equity.HIGHLIGHTSIn Bolivia, climate-disaster food price rises worsen household welfare and exacerbate poverty.Women face higher job losses and more unpaid work than men.Women-headed households see the sharpest consumption declines.Reconstruction boost growth but widens regional and gender gaps.More inclusive recovery emerges from subsidies and targeted cash transfers.