Gender an climate change

1. Gender in adaptation:
from lessons observed to lessons learned
CARE International
Poverty, Environment and Climate Change Network
Presented at the Adaptation Knowledge Forum, 12 March 2012

2. Lessons observed
 Differential vulnerability analysis,
including gender, is an essential
starting point:
 Identify appropriate entry points
 Resist stereotypes
 Recognize opportunity
 Avoid overburdening women
 Move beyond the select few
 Don’t forget about the men

3. Lessons observed
 Conflict and tensions need to be
managed and not stifled.
 Creating platforms and spaces for
women’s leadership to emerge
is crucial
 Progress in one area is usually
insufficient for a woman to fully
realize her rights and
aspirations
 Engage staff in gender and
empowerment initiatives.
 Long-term commitments require
long-term funding

4. Going from lessons observed to lessons learned
Challenges:
 Competing priorities and needs on
the ground
 Trying to do everything at once
 Capacity
 Funding
 The traditional instrumental
approach to gender
 Complexity

5. Understanding gender

6. Going from lessons observed to lessons learned
Enabling factors:
 Twin track approach to gender
and women’s empowerment
 Right-based approach
 FLS/DRR/UCP programming as a
good entry point
 Project-to-program shift
 Learning organization
 Realistic understanding of where
you are on the gender continuum

7. Progress along the gender continuum…
what does this look like in practice for CARE?
 Strategic Impact Inquiry on gender
and women’s empowerment
 Planning adaptation based on
participatory, gendered analysis of
vulnerability
 Designing, implementing and
monitoring adaptation initiatives with the
participation of both women and men
 Identifying specific adaptation
strategies for women and men
 Incorporating gender-transformative
activities
 Promoting gender-equitable adaptation
policies and programmes through our
global and national advocacy efforts

8. More information:
www.careclimatechange.org