Collaboration between gender equality and climate change in Côte d’Ivoire

Ministers meet in Côte d’Ivoire to launch an integrated approach to climate change and gender equality in development planning

SEEN HOTEL, ABIDJAN, CÔTE D’IVOIRE — Governments from around the world are starting to integrate climate change and gender equality considerations into their development planning. As they tend to treat these two strategic priorities separately, an oversight of the links between climate action and gender often prevents them from identifying sustainable solutions.

This presents an urgent need to introduce a mechanism that connects experts working on climate change and gender equality across ministries and institutions.

Happening today, the Launch Ceremony of the National Dialogue on Linking Gender and Climate Change in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, will bring together 65 experts from sector ministries, civil society organizations, and non-governmental organizations (NGO) to improve the systematic integration of climate change and gender equality into the country’s development planning.

During this event, the Minister of Environment and Sustainable Development and the Minister of Women, Family and Children intend to sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) that will ensure continuous collaboration in areas such as data and information sharing, monitoring and evaluation, and fundraising to address the links between gender and climate change in development policies, strategies, and programs.

An advocacy note will also be presented during this event, along with an annual workplan for the national dialogue that will identify strategic lines of intervention to accelerate the mobilization of resources and the implementation of actions.

The planning and financing of this launch event was supported by the NAP Global Network, who has been working with Côte d’Ivoire since 2018 to support the integration of gender considerations in the country’s National Adaptation Plan (NAP) process.

QUOTES

“Gender can be a catalyst through which adaptation becomes fully effective and meaningful. Without taking into consideration gender equality, climate action will not be sustainable.”

Mr Mohamed SANOGO, Coordinator of the National Climate Change Program, Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development, Côte d’Ivoire

“The launch of this national dialogue event is a great milestone for Côte d’Ivoire’s NAP process! NAP processes are expected to enhance coordination efforts and accelerate strategic investments in climate adaptation. These investments must deliver equitable benefits to people of all genders and all social groups, including those who are particularly vulnerable. Côte d’Ivoire can serve as an example for other countries on how to strengthen high level support for gender responsive NAP processes.”

Julie DEKENS, Senior Researcher, NAP Global Network, International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD)