Gender approaches

CDKN is committed to supporting social inclusion and gender equality in its programme. This objective recognises that the way climate change is caused, experienced and remedied is not gender neutral and that social inequalities impede effective and sustainable climate compatible development. Equally, CDKN recognises that there should be equal access between men and women to the human development opportunities that a low carbon, climate resilient pathways can present.

What does gender matter to climate compatible development? A gender-sensitive approach promotes understanding of people’s different identities, needs and interests insofar as it affords a more complete view of the relations people have built with the environment and the way climate change is created, dealt with and remedied. The integration of a gender-sensitive approach into climate change responses and development activities is required to:

Design and implement policies, programmes and projects that enhance the capacities of women and men to mitigate and adapt to climate change, better deal with climate shocks and stresses, and to take advantage of climate change related opportunities.

Improve the relevance, effectiveness and sustainability of climate compatible development activities by involving all members of society, addressing their distinct vulnerabilities and capacities to climate change and ensuring equitable benefits.

Promote and contribute to achieve greater gender equality. An approach that considers only the situation of women and which does not recognise the diversity of different groups of women and men, will not bring about transforming unjust power relations. Gender inequality can be corrected if the rights, responsibilities, and opportunities of women and men are recognised and their interests, needs and priorities are taken into consideration.