Female Leadership and Effects from African Droughts

Informations projet

Fem-LEAD

N° de convention de subvention: 101117889

DOI

10.3030/101117889

Date de signature de la CE 31 Août 2023

Date de début 1 Janvier 2024

Date de fin 31 Decembre 2028

Financé au titre de

• European Research Council (ERC)

Coût total

€ 1 499 568,00

Contribution de l’UE

€ 1 499 568,00

Coordonné par

GOETEBORGS UNIVERSITET
Sweden

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - Fem-LEAD (Female Leadership and Effects from African Droughts)

Période du rapport: 2024-01-01 au 2026-06-30

Résumé du contexte et des objectifs généraux du projet

In brief, Fem-LEAD seeks to understand the connections between weather-related disasters and women’s political standing in politics in African countries. The project focuses on environmental shocks, public opinion and political representation. We use a range of approaches to design cutting-edge studies to advance our understanding of these processes. Funds allow us to collect and combine various forms of original data (e.g. experimental and observational). The project collects and analyzes unique data on women as local candidates and representatives in African countries, not the least South Africa, but also in other regions of the world.

Beyond its specific aims, work within the project extends broadly to study a range of related processes, e.g. but not limited to, how other types of shocks affect attitudes and representation electoral accountability more broadly, and the impact from women’s political presence on different outcomes. Generally, the research group is interested in how natural disasters and various forms of environmental shocks affect political outcomes.

Travail effectué depuis le début du projet jusqu’à la fin de la période considérée dans le rapport et principaux résultats atteints jusqu’à présent

The project is ongoing and a strong research group is beginning to take shape, with researchers based at the University of Gothenburg, as well as a network of international leading scholars. The project has already successfully demonstrated that the first parts of the data collection is successful and insights are being drawn from a combination of experimental and observational datasets.

Progrès au-delà de l’état des connaissances et impact potentiel prévu (y compris l’impact socio-économique et les conséquences sociétales plus larges du projet jusqu’à présent)

This project will advance our understanding of how disasters shape various aspects of politics. While ongoing, it can be mentioned that we already have an interesting finding to report in the context of South Africa (see Elia et al. 2025), demonstrating that voters' evaluation of how politicians handle droughts is gendered. Women are punished more harshly for failing to deliver relief aid.