Climate-resilient water management as a catalyst for reducing gender-based violence in Oriade Local Government Area, Osun State, Nigeria

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Climate change (CC) is a global crisis that increases water scarcity, threatening the well-being of marginalized and vulnerable women in Nigeria. Therefore, an experimental method was adopted to investigate the effect of climate-resilient water management (CRWM) on gender-based violence (GBV) in the rural community of Osun State, Nigeria. One hundred and twenty women were randomly assigned to either a treatment group (CRWM intervention) or a control group (CG – no intervention). Data collected through surveys, focus groups, and interviews were analysed using means, standard deviation, regression analysis, and the Mann–Whitney U test. The CRWM group strongly agrees (mean = 3.8±0.5) that CRWM improves water availability and reduces GBV moderately. The Mann–Whitney U test result showed that there is a significant difference in the perception of CRWM respondents (Mark = 289.39) and CG (Mark = 190.02), U = 16,685.00, Z = −8.80 <0.001 about the effects of CRWM on GBV with a moderate-to-large effect size (r = 0.40). Regression analysis revealed that the CRWM practices significantly reduced GBV scores (β = − 0.58, p < 0.001), accounting for 34% of the variance in outcomes. CRWM can be an effective strategy for reducing GBV in rural Nigeria. There is a need for integrated approaches that address the intersections between CC, water management, and GBV.