7.3. Recommendations

7.2. Key Challenges and Gaps

 Few countries implemented legal or constitutional reforms on the impact of climate change and environmental challenges. A survey of existing climate and environmental legislation indicates that the links between gender, climate and environment are nonexistent or weak.

 Several countries have not yet adopted and implemented NAPs, ccGAPs or other climate and environmental policies. Many existing policies on climate and environment are gender-neutral and therefore discriminatory and fail to recognise the different ways men and women are impacted by climate and environmental changes.

 Conflicts pose a significant challenge to the adoption and implementation of climate adaptation and mitigation policies across Africa. As a result, many flee to neighbouring countries, thus adding stress to resources, and increasing competition. For women who often rely on the ecosystem to provide an income and food security, this is a particular challenge.

7.3. Recommendations

 Develop and implement Climate Change Gender Action Plans (ccGAPs) and National

Adaptation Plans (NAPs) that are gender-sensitive and gender-responsive and include mechanisms for monitoring and evaluation (M&E).

 Ensure women’s equal participation at all levels of decision-making and planning, financing, management, and implementation of climate change responses, such as in mitigation and adaptation processes. In establishing mechanisms for equal participation, particular attention should be given to ensuring the inclusion of marginalised women, such as women with disabilities, elderly women, widows and women in rural areas.

 Enact and enforce laws, policies and strategies that reflect the inter-linkages between gender and climate change, paying particular attention to the gendered impact of climate change and reflecting the needs of women in differing contexts. Frameworks should also adhere to agreed-upon regional, continental and international climate change, environmental and gender commitments.

 Include local women’s groups and indigenous women’s knowledge, expertise and perspectives in responses to environmental and climate challenges.

 Invest in renewable and improved energy resources and ensure women have equal access to these as well as scientific, technological and financial resources. Responses should also consider the needs and perspectives of women in marginalised groups, such as women with disabilities, elderly women, widows and rural women.