Learning lessons from Manatí’s resilient women

The 'Growing up in adversity' project, conducted by Universidad del Norte in Manatí, Colombia, examined the gender-specific psychological and social effects of devastating floods that occurred between 2010 and 2011. The study found that women faced unique vulnerabilities due to gender-related patterns of resource access and domestic responsibilities, but also demonstrated significant adaptive social skills in temporary housing. By employing clinical psychology interventions, community workshops, and an SMS alert system, the project helped survivors strengthen social support networks and consolidate a group identity. The findings argue for the necessity of sex-disaggregated data and a gender-based approach to disaster preparedness plans to move beyond viewing women as victims and instead leverage their active contributions to community resilience.

• Natural disasters produce psychological effects that vary by gender due to distinct physical vulnerabilities and gender-related patterns regarding the control of resources and typical social roles. On average, the impacts of disasters result in higher mortality rates for women than for men.
• In Manatí, the 2010-2011 floods affected 5,733 women who had to reconstruct their lives and livelihoods while maintaining domestic care for children, the elderly, and disabled persons. The aftermath saw an increase in divorce rates and instances of sexual violence and rape, while many men migrated to cities for work, leaving women in charge of households.
• The 'Growing up in adversity' project utilized a combination of home visits, community workshops, and an SMS multimedia alert system to reduce psychological trauma and strengthen social reciprocity. These interventions helped the community consolidate a group identity, improve interactions in provisional refuges, and develop alternative conflict resolution methods.
• Women in Manatí have developed the social skills and self-regulation necessary to function in overcrowded temporary housing and have organized into teams capable of mobilizing preventively for future climate-related extreme events. Despite feeling abandoned by institutions, some women now lobby political authorities for better disaster responses.

APA

Mosello, B., Eljagh, S., & Campis, E. S. (n.d.). Learning lessons from Manatí’s resilient women. Climate and Development Knowledge Network. https://cdkn.org/story/31169

Chicago

Mosello, Beatrice, Samir Eljagh, and Eliana Sanandres Campis. Learning lessons from Manatí’s resilient women. Climate and Development Knowledge Network, n.d. https://cdkn.org/story/31169.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Mosello |first1=Beatrice |last2=Eljagh |first2=Samir |last3=Campis |first3=Eliana Sanandres |title=Learning lessons from Manatí’s resilient women |publisher=Climate and Development Knowledge Network |url=https://cdkn.org/story/31169 |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{mosellondlearning, author = {Mosello, Beatrice and Eljagh, Samir and Campis, Eliana Sanandres}, title = {{Learning lessons from Manatí’s resilient women}}, institution = {Climate and Development Knowledge Network}, url = {https://cdkn.org/story/31169}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }