This policy brief addresses the steady shift of international climate efforts to include a focus on adaptation and the growing recognition of gender-based vulnerability to climate change and calls for a gender-conscious response informed by the differences in needs, responsibilities and unique contributions of both women and men. It considers that: (i) gender disparities increase vulnerability of women and girls to climatic risks; (ii) adaptation actions could have unintended effects on women; (iii) women contribute to adaptation; and (iv) gives six recommendations for action. It also features a step by step approach for gender mainstreaming in disaster risk reduction and for gender mainstreaming in adaptation.
The document is part of a series of policy briefs on gender and climate change for practitioners and policymakers in Africa. It is designed to facilitate the work of the regional and national cadres of experts and other partners in Africa in mainstreaming gender into climate change policy and programming.
