This paper seeks to establish the linkages between violence and people’s resilience capacities to survive and adapt to environmental changes, particularly those living in fragile economic and political contexts such as Chad. It investigates not only how the adverse consequences of violence against women and girls affect the health status and livelihoods of survivors, but also their capacities, and those of their household and community members, to further protect themselves from other risks. The findings determined that ‘everyday violence’ undermines resilience-building at all levels. This has serious implications for development programmes and the role they need to play to better promote both gender equality and resilience to shocks and stresses.