1. Regional Meeting On Gender and Climate Change
is Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, July 17-19, Gender Trends In The Africa Position On Climate Change SAMSON, Samuel Ogallah Programme Manager, PACJA Nairobi, Kenya
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2. Structure of Presentation
Introduction
Framework on Africa’s Position on Gender
Process of Developing the Position
Key Gender Issues on Climate Change in Africa
Elements of Africa’s Position
Recommendations and the Way forward
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3. Introduction
Africa has been the target for advocacy work especially by women’s groups during UNFCCC negotiations
Have often been much more willing to pronounce on gender issues in climate change during COP processes
Informed by experiences of climate change on the ground and desperate in finding support to address its negative impacts
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4. Introduction Individual countries with specific concerns and interests
Regional groupings also with own issues
But a common ground in making decisions on climate change and its gendered impacts
Using established and possible entry points
African women and their organisations have played a key role in this.
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5. Framework on Africa’s Position On Gender and Climate Change
Africa’s position on gender and climate change is rooted in the key principles of the UNFCCC:
The 1992 Rio Declaration states: “In view of the different contributions to global environmental degradation, States have common but differentiated responsibilities. The developed countries acknowledge the responsibility that they bear in the international pursuit of sustainable development in view of the pressures their societies place on the global environment and of the technologies and financial resources they command.”
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6. Framework on Africa’s Position On Gender and Climate Change
Similar language exists in the Framework Convention on Climate Change:
parties should act to protect the climate system “on
the basis of equality and in accordance with their common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities.”
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7. COMESAGENDERAFRICAPOSITIONJULY2013
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8. Framework on Africa’s Position On Gender and Climate Change
There are 2 key elements in the above principle:
The first is the common responsibility of States for the protection of the environment, or parts of it, at the national, regional and global levels.
The second concerns the need to take into account the different circumstances, particularly each State’s contribution to the evolution of a particular problem and its ability to prevent, reduce and control the threat.
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9. Framework on Africa’s Position On Gender and Climate Change
Above recognises inequality as central
Gender relations seen as a key area for the experience of inequalities
Africa has signed on to the UNFCCC
Africa is also signatory to several conventions and agreements on women’s rights and gender equality at international, regional and national levels
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10. Framework on Africa’s Position On Gender and Climate Change
They include the Convention for the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW); the 1995 Beijing Platform for Action; and the AU Solemn Declaration on Gender Equality
Thus in principle Africa is committed to addressing inequalities, specifically gender inequalities in all decisions and in climate change specifically.
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11. Processes of Developing the Position
Participatory approaches for promoting equal access, control and distribution of benefits
Acknowledging differential vulnerabilities, resilience and autonomy of women and men when faced with different risks/threats
Relevance of local knowledge for socio-economic development
Working through institutional frameworks such as The Africa Ministerial Conference on the Environment (AMCEN) and the African Union (AU)
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12. Process of developing the Position
Acknowledgement of national policy thrust and development strategies
But recognising the need for continental position and action
Thus gender issues expected to be factored in from conception and design to implementation and evaluation of climate initiatives
However extent to which the commitment is being translated into concrete action is yet to be assessed.
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13. Key Gender Issues in Climate Change In Africa
Women’s unequal access to and control of resources in areas such as land, household relationships, agricultural production, energy
Differential perception of women and men about the environment
Valuable knowledge and skills of women on issues of the environment
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14. Key Gender Issues in Climate Change In Africa
Women’s limited participation in decision- making processes at all levels
The gendered impacts of climate change and its implications for livelihoods
Lack of data that is sex disaggregated
Lack of specific fund and budgetary allocations to support initiatives that target women and promote gender equality in climate change adaptation and mitigation programmes
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15. Elements of Africa’s Position on Gender In Climate Change
Active participation in UNFCCC process
Support of the “Doha Miracle”:
“Promoting Gender Balance and Improving the participation of women in UNFCCC negotiations and in the representation of parties in bodies pursuant to the Convention and the Kyoto Protocol”
-Decision23/CP.18
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16. Elements of Africa’s Position on Gender In Climate Change
At the same time, for Africa, the above decision is broader than numbers and representation
More than numbers, it is also about acting on a concrete way on the gendered experiences of climate change
Tackle the negative consequences of climate change and address inequalities including those of gender relations
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17. Elements of Africa’s Position on Gender In Climate Change
Thus for Africa, a number of issues need to be addressed from a gender perspective:
Climate Change, poverty and sustainable development
Africa contributes only 4% of greenhouse gas emissions; yet it is the continent most vulnerable to impacts of climate change due to multiple stresses and low adaptive capacities.
Inequalities including those of gender relations are embedded here
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18. Elements of Africa’s Position on Gender In Climate Change
Thus the gendered experiences of climate change need to be taken into account in the efforts to meet the MDGs and the proposals for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) beyond 2015.
Adaptation
According to the IPCC, the cost of adaptation will be 10% of the continent’s GDP. This requires that climate risks are integrated into Africa’s overall development policy and practice.
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19. Elements of Africa’s Position on Gender In Climate Change
The issue here is about the extent to which gender equality issues inform development policy and practice and how this is clearly articulated in addressing climate risks.
3. Mitigation
Generally, mitigation measures are market-based mechanisms on the ground to reduce greenhouse gases. There are serious concerns about such mechanisms and their benefits for Africa.
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20. COMESAGENDERAFRICAPOSITIONJULY2013 12/19/2019
These symbols are Ghanaian Traditional symbols which stand for Strength and Unity in Diversity. And therefore, institutions needs to be strengthened and demostrate more commitment for the AAP in diverse ways working towards the same objective(s)
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21. Elements of Africa’s Position on Gender In Climate Change
Be that as it may, mechanisms such as carbon markets must also recognise/target gender specific initiatives including clean energy programmes, energy efficiency etc.
4. Climate Change and gender Inequality
Women are frequently excluded from processes and decisions relating to the use and management of natural resources including those impacting on climate change.
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22. Elements of Africa’s Position on Gender In Climate Change
Information on the gender dimensions of climate sensitive sectors should be shared at all levels. Training and capacity building, technology and finance are critical elements to enhance gender responsiveness in this regard.
Existing inequalities between men and women can also be exacerbated through the experience of climate change.
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23. Elements of Africa’s Position on Gender In Climate Change
This means that empowerment of women in all aspects is critical
Appropriate information, skills, adequate resources including technology and finance should be proritised so they can act in a timely manner on the issues of concern to them.
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24. Recommendations and the Way Forward
In the light of the foregoing, there is need for:
Full acknowledgement of the contribution of women to the use and management of natural resources;
Guaranteed women’s rights in climate change mitigation and adaptation, including their rights to information, knowledge, skills, resources and participation in decision-making;
Women’s full participation and contribution to decision- making and leadership on climate-change processes and actions, including adaptation and mitigation actions;
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25. Recommendations and the Way Forward
Increasing awareness and understanding on adaptation issues and concerns at the global, national, and most importantly, at the local levels, among the poor and vulnerable;
Provision of timely information and adequate services and resources to women and vulnerable communities to enable them make timely decisions and take appropriate actions, including taking effective adaptation measures;
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26. Recommendations and the Way Forward
Building on and strengthening women’s experiences, knowledge and coping capacities in adaptation policies, and ensuring that women’s needs are considered in livelihood adaptation strategies. This should include the provision of training to women’s organizations, networks and support groups, as well as opportunities to share experiences;
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27. Recommendations and the Way Forward
The use of gender analysis to understand the different roles and responsibilities of women and men in natural resource use and management, in order to make interventions equally relevant for women and men;
The empowerment of women to enable them acquire, invest in and deploy technologies that contribute to mitigation and adaptation to climate change, as well as to enable them effectively mobilize for action;
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28. Recommendations and the Way Forward
Binding commitments from developed country parties to the UNFCCC to mitigate GHG emissions that would be detrimental to the climate system and increase the burden on the poor and vulnerable
Transparency and accountability in the actions of parties to the UNFCCC in reducing the vulnerability of the poor to climate change impacts.
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29. Recommendations and the Way Forward
Greater collaboration between civil society and state agencies in Africa on climate change is called for
Engagement of more gender experts needed
Adequate resources should be guaranteed
Use of local expertise is critical
Africa can be a source of leadership for deepening understanding and addressing gender issues in climate change for sustainable development
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30. Actions:
Engage with Policy Makers, Parliamentarians, Civil Societies, Community leaders, traditional Authorities, Academia, private sectors and other actors on Gender and Climate Change
Provide Support to countries to develop Gender and Climate Change policies, strategies and plan of action
Advocacy and lobbying on gender and climate change
Promote Education, Training and Awareness on gender and climate change
Provide capacity building to countries particularly to women on climate change issues on gender and Climate Change
Promote and support community and livelihood initiatives on gender and climate change resilience
Documentation of best practices
Support and strengthen knowledge management, information dissemination and networks on Gender and Climate change
Promote and support research on Gender and Climate change
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31. Next Steps
Hold Consultations on gender and climate change with the African Group of Negotiators (AGN) (COMESA, EAC,SADC,ECA,IGAD,REFACOF)
Identify and promote a Gender and Climate Change Champion (COMESA, ABANTU, IGAD)
Undertake baseline study on gender and climate change (COMESA, REFACOF, EAC, SADC, IGAD, ABANTU, ASARECA, FAO)
Support community and livelihood initiatives on gender and climate change resilience (COMESA, EAC, SADC, IGAD, REFACOF, FAO, ABANTU)
Coordinate networking and coalition building efforts on gender and climate change (WEDO,GGCA,IGAD,COMESA, ABANTU/ PACJA)
Develop relevant tools and methodologies to facilitate the development of gender and climate change policies (ECA, REFACOF, WEDO, ABANTU, FAO, COMESA, IGAD, EAC, SADC)
Develop a framework for education, training and awareness (REFACOF,ECA/ACPC)
Develop a framework for capacity building (ECA,GGCA)

32. Thank You
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