Integrating women in climate action

By Cliff Chiduku

Last Saturday, Zimbabwe joined the rest of the world in celebrating International Women’s Day. Since this year’s theme is Accelerate Action, it is imperative to consider how gender parity can be integrated into climate action both nationally and globally. ?

Women, especially those in rural areas, are disproportionately affected by climate change due to their reliance on natural resources for livelihood. Therefore, ensuring that women play a central role in climate change policymaking and adaptation strategies is not only a gender issue but a sustainability necessity.

The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) recognised the importance of gender considerations in climate action when it adopted the Gender Action Plan at COP25 in 2019.

Zimbabwe’s Climate Bill should set the tone for inclusivity by ensuring women’s representation at all levels of climate governance.

Women’s voices and experiences must be considered in crafting solutions that will mitigate and adapt to climate change’s impacts effectively.

One of the key provisions of Zimbabwe’s Climate Bill is the establishment of the National Climate Change Management Council. While this council includes representation from civil society and the private sector, it must also explicitly include women’s groups and female climate activists. A gender quota system could be introduced to ensure that women have a significant say in climate policies, ensuring that the unique challenges they face are addressed in decision-making processes.

For climate action to be effective, grassroots participation is essential. Women, particularly in rural communities, have a wealth of indigenous knowledge about environmental conservation, sustainable farming, and water management. The Climate Bill should make provisions for community consultations that prioritise women’s participation.

Local governance structures should be mandated to include women’s voices in climate resilience programmes to ensure that their lived experiences inform national policies.

The Climate Bill’s provisions on adaptation planning should be explicit in their focus on women, given that they constitute the majority of Zimbabwe’s population. Adaptation strategies should prioritise women’s access to climate-resilient agricultural techniques, water conservation technologies, and renewable energy solutions. Women smallholder farmers should be given priority access to climate finance mechanisms and training programmes to ensure their livelihoods are safeguarded in the face of climate change.

One way to integrate women into climate action is through targeted capacity-building programmes. Women should be provided with training on sustainable farming practices, disaster risk reduction and climate-smart entrepreneurship. By equipping women with the necessary skills and resources, they can become active agents of change rather than passive victims of climate change.

Additionally, economic empowerment programmes that promote women’s involvement in green industries — such as solar energy installation, waste recycling and sustainable forestry — should be prioritised. Government policies should also encourage financial institutions to provide accessible credit facilities for women-led climate adaptation projects.

The role of technology in climate action cannot be understated. Women, particularly in rural Zimbabwe, should have access to climate information through mobile technology and digital platforms.

Weather forecasting tools, early warning systems, and digital climate education programmes should be tailored to be accessible to women, ensuring that they have real-time data to make informed decisions about their livelihoods.

Despite women’s crucial role in natural resource management, social and cultural norms often sideline them from leadership positions in climate governance. The Climate Bill should include provisions that challenge these barriers by promoting gender-sensitive policies that empower women. Public awareness campaigns should be implemented to change societal perceptions and reinforce the idea that women’s participation in climate action is essential for national development.

To ensure sustained gender inclusion in climate action, Zimbabwe needs to strengthen its legal and institutional frameworks. The Climate Bill should explicitly mandate gender mainstreaming in all climate policies and programmes.

Additionally, oversight bodies should be established to monitor and evaluate the implementation of gender-sensitive climate policies.

International partnerships should also be leveraged to support Zimbabwe in meeting its gender and climate commitments. Organisations such as UN Women and the African Development Bank’s Gender and Climate Initiative can provide technical and financial assistance to ensure effective implementation of gender-responsive climate policies.

As Zimbabwe commemorates International Women’s Day, it is crucial to ensure that women are at the center of climate action. Zimbabwe should now take advantage of the Climate Bill to explicitly integrate gender considerations and ensuring that women’s participation in policymaking, adaptation planning, economic empowerment and technology-driven solutions. By doing so, Zimbabwe will not only advance gender parity but also enhance its resilience to climate change, paving the way for sustainable and inclusive development.

Food for thought!

Cliff Chiduku is a communications, public policy and governance expert with interests in climate change and environmental issues. He writes in his personal capacity.?Feedback: [email protected] or Call/App +263775716517.