The session “Implementation of Climate and DRR Gender Action Plan at National Level: Synergies and Strategies” was organized in partnership with the UNDRR Stakeholder Engagement Mechanism, Duryog Nivaran, WEDO, and ActionAid International at the recent United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP29), held from November 11–22, 2024 in Baku, Azerbaijan.
The session brought together gender and climate change experts from various organizations to explore the integration of gender-responsive approaches into disaster risk reduction (DRR) and climate action, focusing on aligning the Sendai Gender Action Plan (GAP) and the Climate Change Gender Action Plan (CCGAP).
Moderated by Tanjir Hossain, Global Resilience Advisor at ActionAid International, the session began with a brief overview of the groundwork laid by the UNFCCC’s Enhanced Lima Work Programme and the Climate Change Gender Action Plan (CCGAP) in 2012 and the evolution of the Sendai Gender Action Plan in 2023. The moderator highlighted the lack of synergy between existing frameworks, emphasizing the need for efficient resource use and impactful outcomes.
Mwanahamisi (Mishy) Singano, Co-Coordinator of the Women and Gender Stakeholder Group and Director of Policy at the Women’s Environment & Development Organization (WEDO), discussed challenges identified in the mid-term review of the Sendai Framework, including the lack of inclusive DRR governance and disaggregated data. She explained the formation process of the Sendai GAP through a series of stakeholder consultations and the resource gaps hindering its implementation. Singano stressed the need to focus on implementation by learning from CCGAP’s strengths and weaknesses and investing more resources in the Sendai GAP. She also called for a ‘whole-of-society’ approach to achieve the plan’s outcomes.
Farah Kabir, Country Director of ActionAid Bangladesh, shared that despite evidence showing how social issues, like child marriage, are exacerbated by disasters, disaster preparedness remains a low priority for national institutions. Referencing Bangladesh’s national data, she emphasized the need to institutionalize DRR and gender equity in national strategies and allocate adequate funding and resources for implementation of the Sendai GAP.
Following Kabir, Zainab Yunusa, Gender Equality Advocacy and Policy Specialist at UNFPA, highlighted some of the UNFPA’s strategies to mobilize resources and funding for gender action plans. She described approaches such as multisectoral collaboration with national ministries to raise awareness and resources, and collaboration with partner organizations to conduct grassroots research, leveraging data to support gender action plans.
Animesh Kumar, Head of the UNDRR Office in Bonn, provided insights into using global frameworks to develop national adaptation plans and mainstream DRR efforts. He stressed the challenges and importance of collecting sex- and age-disaggregated data for evidence-based action plans and reducing vulnerabilities. Kumar also highlighted the financial challenges of gender mainstreaming and called for gender-specific financial targets to encourage investment in gender action plans.
The session concluded with key remarks from the panelists, who collectively emphasized the importance of disaggregated data, increased collaboration among stakeholders, and enhanced commitment to gender and social inclusion for the successful implementation of the Sendai GAP.
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