Gender-sensitive climate action can help reduce women's vulnerability to climate change, according to experts.
The topic arose during the Global Gender Summit in Kigali, hosted by the African Development Bank and the government of Rwanda.
Panelists discussed gender and social risk management, livelihood diversification and institutional strengthening, at a session entitled "Gender responsive climate action: experience from the CIF," held on 26 November.
The panel was moderated by Anne Kuriakose, Senior Social Development Specialist at the World Bank.
The panelists shared best practices from the public and private sectors and different geographical areas, including Africa and Asia.
Jackie Siles, gender and climate change expert at the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), presented the African Development Bank/CIF Inclusive Climate Action Initiative, and two assessments of gender integration, conducted on projects in Morocco and Ghana.
The projects provided critical lessons on how to create gender-responsive projects, Siles said.
Indie Dinala, a Project Manager at the Zambia National Development Planning Ministry, shared an example of a joint Zambia-Bank pilot program, while Bertrand Boafo Ohene Asante emphasized the role of gender focal points in energy utilities in the World Bank's Scaling Up renewable energy program in low-income countries (SREP) Ghana project.
The other panelists were Bezhan Kholiknazarov, Head of SME and Microfinance at First Microfinance Bank,
and Juliet Kabera, DG of the Ministry of Environment in Rwanda. Kholiknazarov presented the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development's $10 million investment in Tajikistan, which facilitates access to green technologies, SMEs and women entrepreneurs.
Kabera highlighted the need for gender equality to attain sustainable development. He said Rwanda had developed coherent gender equality policies. "We are committed to uncovering the professional potential of both women and men in environment and climate change," she said.
About CIF:
The CIF, implemented by five multilateral development banks (MDBs), was established in 2008 to initiate transformational change through climate-resilient, low carbon projects in developing countries.
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