Evaluating the impact of armed conflict on the water education-gender nexus in Adar village, West Darfur, Sudan

Abstract

Adar village in West Darfur, Sudan, faces severe challenges due to armed conflict, water scarcity, and gender disparities, which intersect to impact education and community well-being. This study evaluates the impact of armed conflict on the water-education-gender (WEG) nexus, employing a mixed-methods approach with data collected from 367 households and 12 community leaders through structured questionnaires and interviews. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 27 and OriginPro 8.5, employing descriptive statistics, multiple linear regression, and thematic coding. The findings reveal that armed conflict has severely disrupted water infrastructure, with 49.3% of respondents reporting unsafe water access and 45.4% noting depleted resources. Water quality issues were widespread, with 68.1% of respondents citing pollution as the primary problem, and 56.7% rating the physical quality (taste, color, and odor) of water as poor. Gender disparities in education were evident, as 81.2% of households had school-aged girls, but only 28.1% attended school regularly, compared to 36.6% of boys, with 49% of girls miss school due to household chores, including water collection. Water scarcity exacerbated gender roles, as 75% of water collection tasks were performed by women and girls, leading to increased household stress and reduced educational opportunities by 22.5%, 64.2% of the respondent said that conflicts make women taking additional responsibilities, while 35% said, mean migrating for work in the urban centers. Existing water management policies were largely ineffective, with 69.8% of respondents reporting no policies or programs, and only 10.6% considering them highly effective. Community driven initiatives, supported by NGOs 20.4%, were more prevalent than government involvement (0.8%). 47% of the respondent said their alternative education arrangements response to conflicts. 80% of respondents state water scarcity contribution to conflict and the majority 79.5% of respondents regarded dialogue as the main method for conflict resolution. The study concludes that addressing water scarcity, improving infrastructure, and implementing gender-sensitive policies are crucial for enhancing education and gender equity in conflict-affected regions.