Fidaa Haddad's presentation at the Second Regional Summer School in Amman, October 2012.

1. GENDER-RESPONSIVENESS IN EXISTING ADAPTATION STRATEGIES
FIDAA HADDAD
IUCN ROWA GENDER FOCAL POINT
SECOND REGIONAL SUMMER SCHOOL
CLIMATE CHANGE CHALLENGES
IN THE ARAB MIDDLE EAST AND NORTH AFRICA

2. Time trend of disasters
1975-2006

3. FACTS: 1988-2010
• 2007: there were 960 major disasters (the highest ever
such figure)
• 90% being the result of extreme weather-related events
• Accounting for 95% of the reported fatalities
• More people died in disasters during 2010, than in terrorist
attacks in the past 40 years
• 80% of the total $82 billion economic losses

4. HUMAN FACE
Climate change impacts will be
differently distributed among
different regions, generations, age,
classes, income groups,
occupations and genders
The poor, primarily but by no means exclusively in developing countries, will
be disproportionately affected. Their reliance on local ecological resources,
coupled with existing stresses on health and well-being, and limited financial,
institutional and human resources leave the poor most vulnerable and least
able to adapt to the impacts of climate change
(IPCC 2001)

5. IN WHICH CONDITION DOES CLIMATE CHANGE FIND WOMEN?

6. London School of Economics analyzed disasters in 141 countries -decisive
evidence that gender differences in deaths from disasters are directly linked
to women’s economic and social rights.

7. DRYER – HOTTER – LESS PREDICTABLE
Under moderate temperature increases,
for example, some analysts anticipate
that the Euphrates River could shrink by
30% and the Jordan River by 80% by the
end of the century
IISD/Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Denmark) report “Rising Temperatures, Rising tensions
– Climate Change and the Risk of Violent Conflict in the Middle East” (2009) presents an
analysis of the security threat of climate change in the region over the next 40 years (to
2050)

8. TENSIONS
1. Increased competition for scarce
water resources – complicates
peace agreements
2. Intensified food insecurity – raises
the stakes for the return or
retention of occupied land
3. Hindered economic growth -
worsens poverty and social
instability

9. SECURITY & POLITICAL UNREST
- The Levant (Syria, Lebanon, Israel, Jordan and the occupied
Palestinian territory) has experienced more than 60 years of bloody
conflict
- Climate change perhaps a secondary backdrop to other problems
facing the region

10. TENSIONS
4. Destabilized forced migration and increases tensions over existing refugee
populations
5. Perceptions of resources shrinking as a result of climate change could increase the
militarization of strategic natural resources
4. Inaction on climate change
may lead to growing
resentment
and distrust
of the West (and Israel)
by Arab nations

11. DIFFERENTIATED IMPACTS OF DISASTERS

12. ARE THE ADAPTATION STRATEGIES OR PROGRAMS RESPONDS TO THESE FACTS?!

13. WEAKNESSES IN THE CC SYSTEM
 CC major decisions are in the
hands of the environmental
sector with limited capacity on
social issues
 Technical-scientific
 Trying to reinvent the wheel

14. RELATED LANGUAGE FROM RIO CONVENTIONS
UNCBD UNCCD
• “Encourage, subject to national legislation and • “Stressing the important role played by women in
consistent with the Convention on Biological regions affected by desertification and/or drought,
Diversity, the effective protection and use of the particularly in rural areas of developing countries,
knowledge, innovations and practices of women of and the importance of ensuring the full
indigenous and local communities… participation of both men and women at all levels
…in addition, safeguard the existing intellectual in programmes to combat desertification and
property rights of these women as protected under mitigate the effects of drought”
national and international law; “promote awareness and facilitate the
…and encourage fair and equitable sharing of participation of local populations, particularly
benefits arising from the utilization of such women and youth, with the support of non-
knowledge, innovation and practices.” governmental organizations, in efforts to combat
“Recognizing also the vital role that women play in desertification and mitigate the effects of drought”
the conservation and sustainable use of biological “provide for effective participation at the local,
diversity and affirming the need for the full national and regional levels of non- governmental
participation of women at all levels of policy-making organizations and local populations, both women
and implementation for biological diversity and men, particularly resource users, including
conservation...” farmers and pastoralists and their representative
“the COP welcomes the development of a Gender organizations, in policy planning, decision-making,
Plan of Action under the CBD as presented in the and implementation and review of national action
document UNEP/CBD/COP/9/L.4 and invites parties programmes”
to support the Secretariat in its implementation.”

15. GENDER LANGUAGE IN UNFCCC BEFORE 2009

16. ADVOCACY PROCESSES
Bonn-I Bonn-II Bonn-III Bangkok Copenhagen Cancun
Iceland Iceland Iceland Bangladesh Iceland Iceland
Bangladesh Norway Bangladesh Ghana Ghana Bangladesh
Ghana Bolivia Ghana Gambia Gambia Gambia
Gambia Nordic States Australia /UG Indonesia Sierra Leone Denmark
Lesotho EU (which Marshall Cameroon EU
Switzerland Philippines includes Islands DRC Philippines
Costa Rica Iceland and Costa Rica Switzerland Haiti
Guatemala the US) Colombia Nordic States Sweden/EU
Bolivia Central Gabon EU Tanzania
Norway America, Tanzania U.S. Costa Rica
Lesotho on League of Arab League of Arab
Czech particularly State (Jordan,
Republic/EU Ecuador behalf of the State + Jordan Oman, Syria,
Japan LDCs +G77 Lebanon,
Uganda Costa Rica Yemen(G77),
Ecuador Egypt, Bahrain,
South Africa Iraq, Palestine.
Cook Islands

17. ADVOCACY PROCESSES
There has been significant progress in integrating climate change into UNFCCC
processes.
 In 2007, the United Nations and 25 international organizations formed the
Global Gender and Climate Alliance (GGCA), which aims to ensure that global
climate policies are gender-responsive.
 The IPCC now recognizes gender as one factor that shapes vulnerability to
climate change.
In 2010, the Cancun Agreements recognized gender equality as integral to
adaptation.
At COP-17 in 2011, references to gender and women were strengthened in a
number of important areas
Overall, however, advocates argue that gender concerns are not yet sufficiently
addressed under the UNFCCC framework

18. ADVOCACY PROCESSES
 Recognizing gender equality and participation of women as
important for effective action on all aspects of climate change
 Promoting gender sensitivity in enhanced action on adaptation
 Prioritization of vulnerable groups
 Enhancing capacity of women to act/be agents for change
 Strengthening participation of stakeholders, including women
 Consideration of gender in REDD actions

19. IN ARAB COUNTRIES
 Gender has begun to appear on the adaptation agenda.
 Gender-based vulnerabilities and the role of women in adaptation are
acknowledged in the Arab Framework Action Plan51.
 At the national level, countries like Jordan, Egypt and Bahrain, have made
efforts to mainstream gender into adaptation policy
 and several Arab countries have referenced it in national communications
to the UNFCCC.

20. GENDER (IN)EQUALITY IN THE ARAB COUNTRIES
UNDP Gender Population with at least Labor force
Maternal mortality
Inequality Index Seats in secondary education (% participation rate
(maternal deaths
2008 parliament ages 25+) 2010 (%) 2008
per 100,000 live
(%) 2008
AVERAGES births) 2003-2008 Female Male Female Male
Rank Value
Maghreb 80 0.609 287.4 12.0 30.7 39.7 36.0 80.8
Central region 107 0.711 606.0 9.1 28.1 39.7 50.5 70.5
Mashreq 101 0.685 160.5 12.0 34.8 46.9 20.3 75.8
Gulf region 84 0.616 85.3 7.0 51.0 55.5 34.1 84.6
There have been substantial improvements in gender equality in most of the Arab
countries. Significant challenges remain, however.
Gender inequalities vary hugely across the region. Generalizations are difficult +
problematic.
Inequality based on gender is the most pervasive type of equality.
The effects of climate change have the potential to deepen existing inequalities.

21. …………2002
 High rates of illiteracy among women persists in the
majority of the Arab countries, indeed women today
account for two thirds of the region’s illiterates.
 Between 1990 and 2000- 2004, six Arab countries ranked
above the world average of 76.5%. Bahrain raised the
female literacy rate from 74.6% to 84.2%, Jordan from
72.1% to 85.9%, Kuwait from 72.6% to 81%, Lebanon from
73.1% to 82%, Qatar from 76% to 82.3%, and the United
Arab Emirates from 70% to 80.7%
Source: Arab Human Development Report 2002

22. AS WOMEN, WHERE ARE WE?
 Lack of capacity and interest in the issue of climate change from
the mechanisms of women in developing countries
 Groups of women with limited capacity on climate change
 Lack of participation of women in decision-making spaces
WB/ MENA Development report2012

23. FOR EXAMPLE...?
Drought in Al Badia, Syria
 Women  majority of agriculture/animal husbandry
 ~74% of agricultural land is rain fed, but rainfall could decline > 20%
over the next 50-70 years
 2006 – present: serious drought  increased poverty, then inability to
subsist
 ~ 8 out of 10 families  migration = adaptation response.
Serious gendered implications. E.g.:
 Removal of women’s source of livelihood, with fewer alternatives + more
obstacles than men
 Health risks: for men + women, but nutritional deficiencies normally most
serious for girls/women + reproductive health risks
 Gains in girls’ education etc. threatened
MENA Development Report/WB

24. WHAT CAN AND MUST BE DONE?

25. CLIMATE – SMARTS !!!!!!!!!!!!!
URGENT NEED FOR ADAPTIVE CAPACITY

26. CAUSES OF DIFFERENCE
 Avoid being simplistic and just seeing
women (due to their sex) as the VICTIMS
 Women are not vulnerable because they
are "naturally weaker": women and men
face different vulnerabilities due to their
gender condition. Many women live in
conditions of social exclusion

27. CAUSES OF DIFFERENCE
 Vulnerability depends in large part on the
assets (physical, financial, human, social, and
natural) available: the more assets, the less
vulnerable one person is
 Worldwide, compared to men, women tend
to have more limited access to resources that
would enhance their capacity to adapt to
climate change—including land, credit,
agricultural inputs, decision-making bodies,
technology and training services

28. WHAT CAN BE DONE?
 Develop or incorporate gender considerations into
regional and national CC strategies
 Ensure that projects that implement national CC strategies
incorporate the needs of women
 Women EMPOWERMENT
should be one of the priorities
in adaptation and risk
reduction strategies/initiatives

29. GENDER AND CLIMATE CHANGE PROCESS
Knowledge •Training manual on gender and CC
•5 languages
development
•ToTs -500 experts
Capacity •ToD- 300 delegates
building
•61 interventions by Parties prior to
COP 16 (2009 – 2010)
Advocacy •WDF
•3 national strategies
National developed
policies •25 requests
Implementation

30. Programme for Mainstreaming Gender in
Climate Change Efforts in Jordan
D R A F T
1 June 2011
NATIONAL STRATEGY FOR
MAINSTREAMING GENDER IN CLIMATE CHANGE
IN EGYPT
Produced by the Gender Of fice of the International Union for Conservation of Natur e - IUCN
Gender Mainstreaming in the Climate Change Efforts
Jordan and Egypt

31. GENDER MAINSTREAMING IN JORDAN
Where as Jordan Recognized that:
 Climate change affects everyone, everywhere,
 Climate change also has a differentiated impact on women and men.
 BUT existing climatic conditions( Water Scarcity) make women more
vulnerable than their male counterparts, but they are not helpless victims.
 Due to their role in society, women have the potential to be powerful
agents of change – capable of providing solutions to several climate
change adaptation.
The Government of Jordan is a signatory to and member of a number of key international
agreements that already commit the country to gender mainstreaming

32. THE THIRD NATIONAL COMMUNICATION REPORT
Recognizing the important role that women can play in this regard:
 The Government of Jordan requested the IUCN – ROWA based in Amman, to assist in the drafting of
a gender sensitive Programme for mainstreaming gender in Jordan climate change adaptation
strategy
 The Program furthermore outlines a framework for integrating a gender perspective in climate
change efforts in Jordan over the period 2011–2016.
 It also establishes objectives, outlines substantive activities with reachable indicators within the
ambit of the four priority sectors (Water, Agriculture, Energy and Waste)
 The program is a result of a series of inputs- field visits, stakeholder consultation
 The key stakeholder were attend he national workshop from related ministries in cooperation with
Jordan National Commission for Women, women organizations and donor representatives

33. GENERAL OBJECTIVE
To ensure that national climate change efforts in Jordan
mainstream gender considerations so that women and men can
have access to, participate in, contribute to and hence optimally
benefit from climate change initiatives, programs, policies and
funds.

34. Objectives Action steps Indicators of success Responsible
 Expand the training
 Number of training
activities undertaken by
activities incorporating
academic institutions
a gender perspective.
and civil society to
include a gender
 Amount of gender
perspective in research,
disaggregated data MoPIC, MoE,
To enhance the capacity planning, monitoring
available for use. MoA, MWI,
of women and men from and evaluation
MoEnv, MOH,
local communities to exercises.
C.S.
save water.
 Provide refresher
 Number of sessions
courses on water and
conducted at top
gender issues at top
management level.
management level.
 Prepare short courses  Number of courses
for community conducted.
environmental
educators with women  Percentage of women
participation. participation in courses.
 Promote the  Number of women
development, participating in the
validation, dissemination sessions.
dissemination and
transfer of  Number of new
technologies for the technologies being
To build the capacity of efficient use/ low cost used by women and MoE, MoH,
local communities on technologies at men. Universities
water management. household level with
particular focus on
vulnerable
populations.
 Database available.
WATER  Establish a
disaggregated
database.
 Value traditional  Number of experience
knowledge through the exchange nets created.
creation of an
experience exchange
networks.
 Monitor the amount of  Amount of resources
funds made available allocated for women. MOPIC, MOF,
To ensure gender for gender activities at MOA, MoEnv
sensitive budgeting the local level.  Number of projects
targeting women.
 Revision of national
To ensure that climate
legislation related to
change and gender are MWI, MOPIC,
water to ensure than  National policies include
integrated in water MOEnv, MOH,
gender and climate climate change and
polices and -strategies & C.S. NGOs and
change considerations gender considerations.
adaptation measures INGOs
are fully integrated.
proposed.

35. INSTITUTIONAL IMPERATIVES
Intergovernmental coordination for supporting the mainstreaming of gender in
climate change efforts
Ensure that gender criteria (where relevant) are incorporated in the
development of projects and programmes associated with climate change in
Jordan
Strengthen capacity of implementers of the Programme
Secure on-going commitments from funders to support the Programme for
Mainstreaming Gender in Climate Change Efforts in Jordan

36. EGYPT NATIONAL STRATEGY 2011
According to both the Initial National Communication (INC) and the Second National
Communication (SNC) by the Government of Egypt (GoE), the vulnerable sectors in the
country to climate change are identified as:
 Water resources,
 Agriculture and
 Coastal zones.

37. GENDER MAINSTREAMING IN EGYPT
EGYPT PROGRESS
 The Egyptian Constitution guarantees the same rights to all citizens, men and women
 The Government of Egypt is a signatory to, and member of, a number of key international
agreements that already commit the country to gender mainstreaming
Egypt ratified CEDAW in 1981
In 2004, the “National Strategy for Women Empowerment” was developed through a multi-
stakeholder process convened by the National Council for Women (NCW).
Gender equality is of primary concern to the Egyptian Environmental Affairs Agency (EEAA). A
Gender Unit was established in 2002 with the objective:
“To mainstream gender issues, particularly the rights of women to access employment
opportunities and get a proper education, through good governance and adopting democracy
and popular participation”.

38. THE THIRD NATIONAL COMMUNICATION REPORT
Recognizing the important role that women can play in this regard:
 The Government of Egypt requested the IUCN to assist in the drafting of a gender -sensitive Strategy
for mainstreaming gender in Egypt climate change adaptation strategy
 The TNC will become a key tool for decision-making and provide a framework for implementation
at all levels. It will contribute to a deepened understanding of the value of incorporating gender in
both the development and implementation of policies and measures relating to adaptation and
mitigation.
 It also demonstrate the potential contribution to the sustainable development of the principal
economic sectors in Egypt
 The program is a result of a series of inputs- field visits, stakeholder consultation
 TNC policy paper to inform decision-makers on integrating gender considerations in TNC and to
integrate climate change into new national policies on women;

39. THE FRAMEWORK FOR INTEGRATING A GENDER PERSPECTIVE IN CLIMATE CHANGE
COVERS THE PERIOD 2011–2016.
It establishes objectives, outlines substantive activities with reachable indicators within the ambit of
eight priority sectors as identified by participants,
 Integrated coastal management,
 Agriculture,
Water,
Tourism,
Health,
Energy and transport,
 Urbanization, and
Waste.

40. GENERAL OBJECTIVE
To mainstream gender considerations into national climate change initiatives
and policies, so that both men and women have equal opportunity to
understand, participate, and decide effective measures to implement mitigation
and adaptation activities and henceforth benefit from various climate change
programs and-funds, contributing to the national economic, environmental and
social sustainability.
D R A F T
1 June 2011
NATIONAL STRATEGY FOR
MAINSTREAMING GENDER IN CLIMATE CHANGE
IN EGYPT
Produced by the Gender Of fice of the International Union for Conservation of Natur e - IUCN

41. SELECTED ACTION ON IMPLEMENTATION:
INCLUDING GENDER IN IMPLEMENTATION OF INTEGRATED COASTAL MANAGEMENT (ICM)
Objectives Action steps Indicators of success Responsible
 Stocktaking of natural resource assets  Gender disaggregated map indicating  EEAA and SPA
related to CZM disaggregated by sex economic and social value of resources
To develop economic and
social valuations of natural  Analysis of economic and social valuation  Report includes economic and social valuation
resources and its impact of the natural resources disaggregated by of those resources and entry points for women  EEAA, SPA, MOP and
on women sex MOF
 Policies implemented to support women in
CZM sector
 Analyze the current conflict patterns related  Reduction of conflicts  EEAA
to resources use and to conservation, and
development  Number of potential entry points to identify  EEAA/NGOs
women's  NGOs
 Conflict resolution process in place with
women’s participation  Number of awareness campaign conducted to
women for CZM  EEAA/NGOs
To strength a gender  Enhance women's participation in CZM  NGOs
perspective relating to CZM issues  Number of women participating in CZM
through establishing initiatives
sustainable patterns of  Establish networks of women NGOS and  EEAA
cooperation among women CBOs for the management of coastal zone  Number of women trained in each
in selected areas geographical area
 NGOs
 Number of families benefiting from women  Private sector
participation in CZM
 Number of networks established for
management of CZ
 Restructure the ICZM national committee  Number of women represented in the  EEAA
To establish a sustainable to include 1/3 of its members as women committee
institutional and regulatory
framework for CZM taking  Conduct regular 3-4 committee meetings  Mapping of women’s roles and responsibilities
into account women's annually in the committees  EEAA
participation in the
decision making process  Number of decisions impacting positively on
women in CZ
 Identify and make available financial  Increase in funds access y women  MOP
mechanism that fund and support women’s
projects and their participation in CZM  SFD
To develop a sustainable
financial mechanism to  Establish women's national fund for  National fund established  MOF
fund gender projects in adaptation in CZM  Number of projects successfully implemented
CZM  EEAA
 SPA
 Built awareness in coastal and Delta  Number of people with knowledge in relation  MOP
communities on the impacts of climate to climate change and CZM
change in the fishery industry and marine  SFD
ecosystems  Adaptation strategies in place in the most
vulnerable communities  MOF
 Develop adaptation strategies with women

42. INSTITUTIONAL IMPERATIVES
Intergovernmental coordination for supporting the mainstreaming of gender in
climate change efforts
Ensure that gender criteria (where relevant) are incorporated in the
development of projects and programmes associated with climate change in
Egypt
Strengthen capacity of implementers of the Programme
Secure on-going commitments from funders to support the Programme for
Mainstreaming Gender in Climate Change Efforts in Jordan

43. THE ARAB FRAMEWORK ACTION PLAN ON CLIMATE CHANGE (AFAPCC)
2010-2020
The content of the Arab Framework Action Plan for
dealing with issues of climate change is based on
the Arab Ministerial Declaration on Climate Change,
issued by the Council of Arab Ministers Responsible
for the Environment at its nineteenth session
CAMRE 2020 - 2010
Where there are overlapping ecosystems, joint surface and ground water, and the
mobilization of human economic and institutional resources, which reduces the cost of
implementation.

44. THE OVERALL OBJECTIVE OF THE PLAN
"Increasing the capacity of Arab countries to take appropriate measures to
deal with the issues of climate change in a way that reduces the political,
economic, social reactions and consistent with the requirements of sustainable
development in the Arab region, through enabling the social and institutional
structures as well as economic sectors to assess the implications of climate
change, and to develop policies and programs of mitigation of emissions and
adaptation to the potential impacts of climate change. "

45. STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES
1. Reduce the risks of climate change and the readiness to confront its potential impacts
through programs of mitigation and adaptation.
2. Preservation of the natural and human resources and to ensure a decent standard of
living for Arab citizens.
3. Enhancement of the pace of sustainable development in the Arab states, including
achieving MDGs.
4. Strengthening and building the national and regional institutional capacities to deal with
issues of climate change and cope with disasters.
5. Establishment of favorable conditions to stimulate regional and international
cooperation necessary to support national programs.

46. THE TIME FRAME AND THE MECHANISM OF IMPLEMENTATION
National Level:
Forming national commissions for climate change in the Arab States, made up of various national parties with
participation of governmental experts, the private sector and relevant civil society organizations, and the National
Committee will follow the progress in the implementation of sectoral action plans and the extent of development
in national policies on climate change issues.
 The Regional level:
Forming an Arab coordination council to cope with climate change, consists of the heads of national committees,
experts, representatives of relevant Arab, regional and international organizations, representatives of private
sector and civil society organizations.
Constituting a sub-advisory committee of experts at the level of the Arab States:
Affiliated to the Arab Council concerned with scientific, technical and technological advice, shouldering the task of
coordinating the plans and programs of implementing national and regional activities, and preparation joint
projects for the purpose of financing, and assessing and following-up the achieved progress in the development of
national and regional policies and implementing working programs

47. AFAPCC RECOMMENDATIONS
Regional cooperation in adaptation efforts should be fostered through the adoption of
regional strategies and action plans that address CC concerns, and through the development
of a regional early warning system for forecasts, risk assessment and monitoring of extreme
events.
An enhanced cooperation, development & implementation of integrated regional water
management between countries sharing water sources - both surface and groundwater
Empowerment of communities,– particularly women and other vulnerable groups
Involving civil societies and private sector

49. AN INTEGRATED CLIMATE AND GENDER STRATEGY LEADS TO SUSTAINABLE
AND EFFECTIVE ADAPTATION
Lose – Win Scenario Win-Win Scenario
Climate insensitive gender strategy Integrated climate and gender strategy
-High community accountability for -High community accountability for NRM
NRM -Reduced vulnerability and inequality
Gender Strategy
-Reduced gender inequality -Growing resilience of environment and
-Declining environmental resilience communities
=> Unsustainable development => Sustainable and transformative
development
Lose – Lose Scenario Win-Lose Scenario
No climate or gender strategy Gender insensitive climate strategy
-Declining resilience of environment -Low community accountability for NRM
and communities -Increased gender inequality
-Increasing vulnerability and poverty -Declining community resilience
=> Highly unsustainable development => Unsustainable development
Adaptation Strategy

50. POLICY OPTIONS
 At the institutional level:
• Build the capacity of institutions to integrate gender
considerations in adaptation planning and management at all
levels, e.g. through a gender mainstreaming project led by a
national gender focal point.
• Develop targeted social safety nets to build the resilience of
vulnerable groups.
 At the household and community level:
• Empower and train women in particular to diversify their
livelihoods through income-generating activities, for greater
resilience.
• Empower communities to participate in adaptation-related
decision-making to build on men’s and women’s specific
knowledge and skills.
 Improve the collection and use of sex disaggregated data

51. GENDER-SENSITIVE ADAPTATION CHECKLIST
 Access, control and distribution of benefits
 Levels of vulnerability, resilience, and autonomy of
women and men when confronted with threats
 Importance of local knowledge and existing
coping strategies
 Learn from DRR strategies

52. SUMMARY
 Adaptation measures reveal the human dimensions of climate change
 Both women and men are affected by CC but existing inequalities
determine who is most impacted by natural disasters
 Men and women have different needs and interests in adaptation
efforts
 Women are important agents of change: their unique knowledge is
essential for adaptation measures and policies
 Full and effective participation of women is essential in order to make best
use of their knowledge and experience

54. MAKE UP YOUR OWN MIND …
WORKING TOGETHER: SERVING TOMORROW TODAY