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Selma Lendelvo is an associate research professor in life sciences, and currently the Director for the Centre for Grants Management and Resource Mobilization at the University of Namibia (UNAM). Her work and publications have mainly been on community-based natural resources management and rural development including cross-cutting aspects such as gender and climate change.

In issue #126 we continue our conversation with Selma Lendelvo on the affects of climate change in Namibia, and the hope for the future.

To view Part 1, please click here. 

Tanya Singh: How do you think Climate change is going to affect women’s mobility, considering they are already so vulnerable?

Selma Lendelvo: When we look at women's mobility in the context of resource scarcity, it's clear they face unique vulnerabilities - especially when climate disasters like floods strike. Seeking shelter becomes incredibly difficult, making women among the most vulnerable groups in environmental crises. This vulnerability intensifies for rural women, many of whom have never left their immediate villages.

Take Namibia and Botswana - these are extremely arid countries. What's concerning is that while droughts typically affect specific regions, we're now seeing unprecedented mobility patterns emerging. In our research area, we're observing something new: women like the Himba people (indigenous groups living in remote areas) are increasingly leaving their traditional lands. They're moving along roads, often alone, breaking from tradition just to secure $5 or a meal. This exodus is disrupting household structures in ways we've never seen before.

At the Pan-African level, there's strong engagement on gender and climate issues in political discussions, but academic research hasn't kept pace. What we're missing is systematic documentation of how climate change specifically impacts African women - particularly rural women. Current research remains fragmented; we get bits of information but never the complete picture. We urgently need rigorous studies to understand these dynamics properly.

This documentation gap prevents us from developing effective case studies. Imagine being able to take a well-researched example from Namibia and apply its lessons elsewhere - that's how we build true cross-border solidarity. The recent mass movement of women and children from Angola into northern Namibia due to hunger illustrates this need perfectly. We can't just offer temporary food aid and hope they return home - we must deeply understand the drought-driven causes behind such displacements.

Our research shows a critical pattern: resilience directly correlates with survival rates. Communities with strong adaptive capacities experience fewer fatalities during climate shocks, no matter how severe. But vulnerable groups without resilience mechanisms face catastrophic consequences when disasters hit. This isn't just about temporary displacement - it's literally a matter of life and death.

TS: Exactly. We're seeing this same crisis unfold in India right now - unseasonal rains and unprecedented flooding are sweeping across the entire country from north to south, east to west. What's most alarming is how completely unprepared we are. Our infrastructure is failing - drainage systems can't handle the water, emergency response systems are overwhelmed, and worst of all, people are dying unnecessarily. These deaths are preventable, that's what makes it so tragic.

This situation really underscores the larger climate crisis we're facing. Across the Global South, we're dangerously unprepared for what's coming in the years ahead.

SL: You know, the Global North bears the greatest responsibility for emissions - our footprint is minimal in comparison. There needs to be accountability from these wealthy nations - some form of compensation, though I hesitate to say "help" because we're not helpless. It's about fairness. The current negotiations feel completely unequal, like big brother dictating to small brother. We keep having these discussions, but all we get are token gestures like this "loss and damage" fund. It's absurd - as if the problem is just infrastructure!

The real solution is for the Global North to drastically cut emissions so we can stabilize the climate enough to actually address these crises. We also need better forecasting systems, scientists predict these heatwaves, yet no one prepares.

TS: There’s also the issue of inequality. In India, when temperatures soar, the wealthy just escape to the hills or live in their air-conditioned bubbles. It's the working class - drivers, street vendors, laborers - who suffer in the deadly heat.

SL: Our societies are becoming more unequal by the day, making it harder to address vulnerabilities. Still, I see hope - systems are gradually strengthening. By 2050, I trust younger generations will develop smarter solutions because climate variability will only intensify. The question is how much we'll suffer before then.

TS: Could you briefly tell me if there's anything new that you're working on, any new research that you're conducting right now. 

SL: You know, as an ecologist, I've come to realize that everything connects - gender issues, climate change, income disparity, and community development. Right now, I'm involved in several research projects that reflect this understanding.

First, I serve on advisory bodies where we bring together practitioners, community members, NGOs, civil society, and government officials to discuss community development issues. I find this work incredibly rewarding.

My second major project took me to Bangladesh this year - which helped me understand your perspective better. We're examining the links between climate change and health outcomes, while exploring adaptation strategies. This research incorporates intersectional analysis, focusing on vulnerable groups like women and the working class. It combines academic research with practical community development components.

On the conservation front, I'm studying Namibia's conservancy model - particularly hunting and joint venture businesses that generate most revenue. We're analyzing the sector's evolution and current dynamics, especially concerning foreign investors and funders. A key question is whether this system disadvantages local communities by primarily benefiting elites.

Recently, I published a book examining these regional issues. We've observed that as conservation efforts expand, human-wildlife conflicts intensify. Communities are now experimenting with innovative models like "mini national parks" - designated conservation zones that protect both wildlife and households.

Namibia's conservation approach remains shaped by colonial legacies, but there's growing momentum to develop more sustainable, equitable practices despite these challenges.

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