Supporting the inclusion and engagement of gender and youth in climate policies in Uganda and Kenya
Country of Operation: Uganda and Kenya
Climate Adaptation Sector Thematic Area: Gender and Youth (Cross-cutting)
Activities
Most countries recognize the value of intergenerational and gender-responsive approaches to adapting to climate change. Several countries have made concerted efforts to promote inclusivity in the development and design of their NDCs, their National Adaptation Plans and national climate policies and legal frameworks. This includes Uganda, Zambia, Kenya and South Africa. Gender inclusivity is essential in adaptation efforts because women have unique knowledge and experiences related to climate impacts that can improve the resilience and sustainability of the country’s policies. Similarly, young people will be the most affected by climate change in the future, raising the importance in gathering their views and ideas when attempting to develop resilient policy options for adaptation. Young people are also often at the forefront of innovation and technology, both crucial elements for improving resilience.
Uganda has conducted a gender analysis of key NDC sectors (energy, waste management and agriculture) to improve the gender- responsiveness of its NDCs and climate policies. Zambia has integrated gender indicators into its NDC implementation plan and its measurement, reporting and verification (MRV) framework. Kenya has done the same through the Ministry of Environment and Forestry’s Technical Working Group, which has developed gender-responsive indicators for tracking Kenya’s NDC implementation in the national MRV system. To ensure gender- responsiveness, Namibia’s updated NDC included climate change risk and vulnerability assessments to enhance their disaster preparedness and response mechanisms.
In 2021, South Africa has established the Presidential Climate Commission (PCC) to enhance the representation of different stakeholders in the development and review of climate change policy, especially as it undergoes a country-wide Just Energy Transition away from coal-fired electricity. To consult and engage broadly, the PCC brings together government stakeholders, women’s activists, workers and trade unions, faith groups and youth groups to review and make inputs into the country’s climate change policies. The PCC gives a platform for these stakeholders to make presentations at important national meetings, as well as to integrate their views in vulnerability assessments and other key planning policy structures. In addition, youth participants are officially accredited to participate on South Africa’s national negotiating team going to the Conference of parties meetings each year. This ensures that youth are able to negotiate on behalf of their constituency and bring the realities and challenges faced by young people to the fore.
Considering the inclusion of youth, gender and indigenous perspectives and approaches to climate adaptation can improve the IGAD region’s adaptive capacity. Promoting youth, gender and indigenous inclusivity in climate adaptation is essential for the IGAD region. The population is expected to grow rapidly over the next years in a region particularly vulnerable to climate change impacts. The sustainability and resilience of adaptation measures can be improved by a regional framework which promotes the creation of multi-stakeholder forums for reviewing national policies. A regional M&E system can learn from the Kenyan and Ugandan gender indicators to improve gender- responsiveness. The framework should also stipulate how Member States should support the capacity building of young people and of indigenous groups to ensure both communities can contribute effectively to the development of policies.
Adaptation Good Practices
- Gender inclusivity is essential in adaptation efforts because women have unique knowledge and experiences related to climate impacts that can improve the resilience and sustainability of the country’s policies.
- Engaging young people is good for futuristic adaptation plans. Young people will be the most affected by climate change in the future, raising the importance in gathering their views and ideas when attempting to develop resilient policy options for adaptation.
- Involving young people guarantees innovation for adaptation. Young people are also often at the forefront of innovation and technology, both crucial elements for improving resilience.
Further information