Women’s leadership in Climateresilience
DRAWN FROM THE EXPERIENCES OF COMMUNITIES IN LOWER –MEKONG SUBREGION

Context : Climate Change and GEDSI in the Lower
Mekong Sub-region
ENVIROMENT/CLIMATE CHANGES• (Due increased carbon emissions; De-forestation; Land degradation; Upstream development)• Increasing unpredictable, more frequent & more intense hydro-meteorological hazards• Landslides• Floods and droughts• Sea level rise/saline intrusion : Mekong Delta• Changes in seasonal river flows :GENDER EQUALITY• Climate Change perpetuates and magnifies structural inequalities ,particularly climate crises bear agreater impact on women:• Traditional beliefs and social norms limit the role women can play outside the home and beyond caring roles; lowerrates of female labor force participation- particularly in green jobs, value chains, and leadership; occupationalsegregation and wage gaps
• Women have lower literacy levels than their male counterparts; lower rates of female graduates in Science
Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) fields• Limited representation and participation of in CCA /DRM institutions, policy and decision-making bodies andprocesses• Limited access to and control of economic/financial resources ,transport, information and a gender digital divide• The perspectives and role of women in DRM and CCA is often over-looked and under-valued although they are a
key resource for both at the household and community levels
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THE CONTEXT CONT…
DISABILITY & SOCIAL INCLUSION• Prioritisation of economic growth such as forest and land conversion and diversion of river flows;over environmental and ecosystem protection with rural communities relying on local naturalresources most impacted• Poverty is increasingly concentrated in remote rural areas and among ethnic minorities/indigenous people whoare more likely to reside in these area
• The perspectives and roles of people living with disability; and the knowledge and role of ethnic
minorities/indigenous people in DRM/CCA analysis and planning are often over-looked and under-valued• The vulnerability of marginalized populations will increase, compounded by intersecting impacts related togender, ethnicity, age, class, and disability, among others

CLIMATE ACTION: POLICIES&PROGRAMS• Lack of disaggregated data particularly on dimensions of social exclusion such as age and disability in key
sectors-including energy, transportation, urban infrastructure, and entrepreneurship limits policy making.
• Knowledge regarding the nexus between gender and social dimensions in climate and environmental action islimited.
• Lack of coordination between water management decision-making bodies create conflicts of interests in different
jurisdictions (eg irrigation versus environmental flows, hard infrastructure versus forest conservation• Lack of adequate resourcing to national DRM structures particularly at the community level• Limited integration of DRM and Climate Change into subnational development planning• Limited coordination horizontally and vertically between key agencies and bodies
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THE NEXUS: CLIMATE CHANGE ON WOMEN

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Why place women’s leadership at the heart ofclimate action ?
•Women possess unique knowledge and experience, particularly at the local level, theirinclusion in decision-making processes is critical to effective climate action.

•Climate action requires 100 percent of the population-•At the local level, the participation of women in natural resource management is associatedwith better resource governance and conservation outcomes.

•Expanding women’s access to productive resources can increase agricultural production
and food security ,reduce the pressure to deforest more and land reduce carbon dioxideemission.

•In the workplace, women’s leadership is associated with increased transparency aroundclimate impact•

Climate change affects us all, but not equally: investing in gender equality and women'sempowerment has far-reaching benefits, including environmental conservation, poverty
reduction, and achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). And by tacklingclimate change with a gender lens, we can also address women's rights and promote greater
gender equality.
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CALL TO ACTION: WHAT CAN WE DO TOGETHER TO
PROMOTE WOMEN’S LEADERSHIP IN CLIMATE ACTION
Governments and Policy-Makers:- Implement policies that promote gender equality and inclusive decision-making processes inclimate change discussions and initiatives.
- Allocate resources and funding specifically for women's leadership development programs inclimate change sectors.
-Provide support and training for women in STEM fields and environmental sciences toincrease their participation in climate-related research and technology development.

Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) and Civil Society:- Advocate for gender-responsive climate policies and programs, highlighting the importance ofwomen's representation and participation in leadership positions.

- Support and collaborate with women-led organizations and initiatives working on climatechange to amplify their voices and increase their impact. - Organize training programs,workshops, and mentorship opportunities to build the capacity of women leaders in climateaction.
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Businesses and Corporations: Ensure diversity and inclusion in their leadership teams and boardrooms by actively recruiting andpromoting women in climate-related roles.

- Invest in initiatives that empower women entrepreneurs and innovators in climate change sectors-integrate gender equality into climate investments across sectors and expand gender-sensitive
climate finance.
Women-Actively seek knowledge and deepen their understanding on climate change and its various
dimensions, so that they can effectively communicate and advocate for climate action in various
settings- Build networks and collaborations with like minded individuals and organizations working on
climate change. This will amply their collective leadership and voice-Actively seek and take up leadership roles and positions. This will position them to influence
policies and decisions inline with their interests

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About the Oxfam Strengthening Climate Resilience
Project

3 YEAR PROJECT , under
the Mekong Water
Governance Programme.

Supported by DFAT

Aims at strengthening
poor people’s capacities todeal with shocks andstresses, manage risks, andtransform their lives inresponse to newhazards and opportunities.

Simultaneously,Oxfam seeks to address
their underlying causesof vulnerability, and improvethe systems and structuresthat support people in theface of shocks and stresses.

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THANK YOU !!