In the rural fishing camps of Zambia, where drought and aid cuts have worsened food insecurity, an alarming trend has emerged: women are increasingly forced into “sex-for-fish” arrangements with fishermen. This exploitative practice, which involves women trading sex for access to fish, is being driven by both the devastating impact of climate change and the withdrawal of foreign aid.
A Dire Situation: Drought, Hunger, and Exploitation
Zambia is facing a climate crisis that is intensifying food insecurity. In 2023, severe droughts left over 6 million Zambians at risk of acute food shortages, with nearly half of the country’s farmlands experiencing total crop failure. These conditions forced many women, including those like Martha, a rural Zambian, to turn to informal fishing as a means of survival.
Martha owns a fishing net but lacks the resources for a boat, so she depends on fishermen for her catch. Unfortunately, the price of fish isn’t always paid in money—“They demand sex in exchange for cheaper fish,” Martha shared with ActionAid, a global NGO focused on gender equality.
Palekelo*, another woman forced into fishing when her farm dried up, also faced similar coercion: “The fisherman told me I could come with my money, but if I didn’t spend the night at his house, I wouldn’t get any fish.”
Gender-Based Violence and the Withdrawal of Aid
Zambia has one of the highest rates of gender-based violence (GBV) globally, with over 42,000 reported cases annually. However, many incidents go unreported, and the true scale of violence is likely far higher. For women in rural Zambia, a growing vulnerability to sexual exploitation has become a painful reality.
ActionAid, which has been working in Zambia since 1996, previously supported efforts to combat gender-based violence. Through USAID-backed programs, it ran women’s watch groups, safe houses, and awareness campaigns to help victims of abuse. But the recent cuts to foreign aid, particularly from the United States and European nations, have jeopardized these programs.
Faides TembaTemba, ActionAid’s country director in Zambia, lamented the situation: “No mother should have to trade her safety to keep her children from starving. But that is the reality women in Zambia now face. It is unacceptable that in 2025, we are forcing women into a cycle of violence and abuse simply because governments have chosen to turn their backs.”
The Global Context: The Impact of Aid Cuts
The situation in Zambia highlights the broader impact of climate-induced challenges and the subsequent withdrawal of aid. Under Donald Trump’s presidency, significant cuts to USAID funding left many vulnerable populations without critical support, including the programs aimed at addressing gender-based violence in Zambia.
Niranjali Amerasinghe, executive director of ActionAid USA, criticized the cuts: “The reckless decision to slash USAID funding is having an immediate and severe impact on the world’s most vulnerable. It has left women and girls in Zambia at risk of exploitation, stripping away critical support with no plan to replace it.”
A Call for Accountability
The “sex-for-fish” phenomenon in Zambia is not just about exploitation in a single sector—it’s a stark example of the dangers that arise when climate crises collide with funding shortfalls. As the climate emergency exacerbates existing inequalities, more women in rural regions face the stark choice between survival and their safety.
The international community must reassess the approach to aid and development, ensuring that funding reaches those who need it most—especially vulnerable women in areas at the intersection of climate change and poverty.
References:
- ActionAid: Zambian Women’s Vulnerability
- euronews.com
- UN Women: Zambia Gender-Based Violence Statistics
