ISLAMABAD: The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) in collaboration with Ministry of Climate Change is working on developing a National Climate Change Gender Action Plan to build capacities through making a strong institutional mechanism.

With support from the green climate fund (GCF) and technical guidance from the IUCN and other key partners, the government and key stakeholders are developing the action plan after a comprehensive consultative process.

It is being developed around six priority sectors including agriculture and food security, forests and biodiversity, disaster risk reduction, water and sanitation, integrated coastal management and mitigation, energy and transport.

According to a statement issued by IUCN, the process for development of the plan was led by Ministry of Climate Change and IUCN in order to enhance national capacity and focal groups and a cross-sector national action plan, fostering innovative project design to strengthen national and provincial climate change adaptation, mitigation and resilience through gender-responsive strategies and activities.

This initiative has enhanced existing and nascent policy and programming while elevating the country’s position as an international leader towards building inclusive sustainable development, climate action and resilience for all.

This comprehensive process directly engaged approximately 300 women, gender experts, organisations led by women and key stakeholders from priority sectors and from all over Pakistan.

IUCN described the initiative as an important achievement of the government of Pakistan in multiple ways, particularly as it was the first ever Climate Change Gender Action Plan of Pakistan led by the Ministry of Climate Change and also being the first such initiative by GCF to ensure gender mainstreaming in upcoming projects.

“GCF will use lessons learnt as a guide for other gender-responsive readiness initiatives all over the world,” the statement added.

Upon completion of the document, launch of the Climate Change Gender Action Plan (ccGAP) document and Climate Change Gender Portal has been planned on July 20, 2022.

Published in Dawn, July 18th, 2022