Training Manual to Support Country-Driven Gender and Climate Change

Policies, Strategies, and Program Development

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• Publisher: Asian Development Bank
• Year: 2016
• Print ISBN: 9789292572549
• eBook ISBN: 9789292572556
• Topic: Biological Sciences
• Subtopic: Women in Business
• Index: Biological Sciences

This publication aims to provide trainers, practitioners, and policy makers of environment and gender mainstreaming agencies an understanding of key concepts and approaches to gender-responsive mitigation measures, strategies, and policies. It covers key concepts on gender and climate change and concludes with step-by-step guidelines for policy and decision makers to mainstream gender into climate policies and projects, with practical tools and exercises to support training on gender and climate change. This manual is based on a series of workshops held in Cambodia, the Lao People's Democratic Republic, and Viet Nam and models the Asian Development Bank's operational approach of integrated country-driven climate responses in enabling gender-responsive climate action. It accommodates readers and training participants who are not familiar with climate change issues or gender concepts, and case studies herein can be adjusted to the country context.

Module 1: Gender and Climate Change

This module is split into two sessions and may be preceded by an icebreaker game. The level of detail with which gender issues are discussed should be adjusted to the participants’ previous knowledge. Trainers should acknowledge the diverse group of workshop participants who may include both representatives from women’s organizations well versed in women empowerment issues and policy makers from environment ministries who may lack basic knowledge of these issues.

Objectives of This Module

In a first step, this module addresses key concepts of gender and gender equality before establishing the links between gender and climate change. This module lays the foundation for a mutual understanding of gender issues and the importance of mainstreaming gender into climate policies and projects. The capacity to identify gender inequalities and awareness of the advantages of an inclusive approach are prerequisites for the design of successful and equitable mitigation measures.

Session A aims:

» Familiarize policy makers and representatives from environment and other line ministries with key gender issues and concepts

» Facilitate a mutual understanding of the significance of gender equality and the necessity of women’s empowerment

» Lay the foundation for a partnership approach to decision making that enables marginalized actors from women’s organizations to share their expertise and experience

» Illuminate prejudices and misconceptions surrounding gender issues

Session B aims:

» Introduce the links between gender and climate change

» Highlight the importance of acknowledging the gender–climate nexus in the design and implementation of policies and projects

» Encourage a shift in perception from women as victims to recognizing women’s potential to contribute to and benefit from climate change

» Internalize the environmental, social, and economic development benefits of inclusive mitigation measures

» Outline a partnership approach that supports gender mainstreaming in climate policies and projects

Session A: Overview of Gender Issues and Concepts

At the end of this session, participants should be able to understand and explain the concept of gender and related issues such as gender equality, women empowerment, gender analysis, and gender mainstreaming. All participants with varying degrees of previous knowledge should be able to engage in informed discussions on gender considerations.

The presentation should give an overview of the objectives and the contents of the session before introducing key gender concepts.

Contents

The presentation should cover key gender concepts and should answer the following questions:

» What is gender?

» What are gender relations?

» Why consider gender?

» What is gender equity and equality?

» What is gender mainstreaming?

» What is gender analysis?

What is gender?

Gender does not refer to biological distinctions (referred to as “sex”), but rather to the social differences between women and men. Gender refers to roles, rights, relationships, and responsibilities ascribed to women and men in a specific society and cultural context. What it means to be a man or a woman is (re)created and learned in everyday life in our families and societies. These gender roles and responsibilities of men and women are not fixed, but are changeable over time.

Discussion: What does it mean to be a man or a woman in your country’s society and culture? What are viewed as women’s and men’s roles? Give examples of what you consider male or female responsibilities and jobs.

Discussion of perceived gender roles: Highlight that roles and responsibilities are often attributed to supposed biological differences between men and women or their emotional dispositions, but that they are socially constructed and changeable. For instance, how is the ability and responsibility to cook linked to the capacity to give birth? If women are responsible for and better at cooking, why are celebrity cooks on TV almost all male?

What are gender relations?

Gender relations define the way in which roles, responsibilities, and access to and control of resources are allocated between men and women. For instance, gender roles may define men as being responsible for providing for their families and generating an income, while depicting women as being responsible for reproductive duties such as raising children. This distribution of roles, responsibilities, and access to and control over resources can mean that women often become dependent on their husband’s income and that they cannot participate in making decisions at the community level.

Hence, gender relations refer to the distribution of power between women and men. This distribution of power can be uneven, which makes relations between men and women unequal.

Gender roles and relations also change over time, because they are not rooted in biological differences, but are created by societies.

Discussion example: In many societies, women are responsible for food security and childcare. They may spend many hours a day collecting water or fuel for cooking and working on fields and are dependent on these natural resources that are endangered by climate change. Women may also become exposed to smoke from cooking, have to carry heavy loads every day, and have limited time for leisure, education, or a job. Women’s roles as caregivers may prevent them from participating in public decision-making and generating an income. For instance, village meetings may be scheduled in the evenings when women have to put children to bed and cook. They are then dependent on their partner’s income and are often restricted from making decisions in the public sphere. This reinforces an unequal power relationship within families.

Why consider gender?

Practical: The differences in women’s and men’s roles, needs, and interests demand different policy and project approaches.

Smart economics: Women still face inequality in access to resources, opportunities, participation, and decision making that constrains them from reaching their full potential. If inequalities are not addressed, half of the population’s potential to contribute to social, economic, and environmental development is lost to a society.

Sustainable: Long-term development is only possible if all parts of a society are empowered to improve their livelihoods. Women are central to socialization—that is, they teach future generations the importance of protecting their environment and play an important role in their education for a better future. Gender equality is central to sustainable development (also recognized in the Millennium Development Goals ¹³).

Just cause: Equality for all social groups independent of their gender, age, or wealth is a development goal in itself and is a prerequisite for a flourishing and happy society.

Discussion: Why is gender important? What other social factors are equally important?

What is gender equity and equality?

Gender equity is the process of creating a level playing field for women and men. It means fairness of treatment for women and men, according to their respective needs. This may include equal treatment or treatment that is different but considered equivalent in terms of rights, benefits, obligations, and opportunities (footnote 5). To ensure equity, policies must often compensate for historical and social discrimination that disadvantages women in accessing income and resources. Thus, gender equity includes fairness in women’s and men’s access to socioeconomic resources (footnote 7). Gender equity leads to gender equality (footnote 6).

Gender equality refers to the equal rights, responsibilities, and opportunities of women and men and girls and boys. The concept means that all human beings are free to develop their personal abilities and make choices without the limitations set by strict gender roles; that the different behavior, aspirations, and needs of women and men are considered, valued, and treated equally (footnote 4). Equality does not mean that women and men have to become the same, but that their rights, responsibilities, and opportunities will not depend on whether they are born male or female (footnote 5).

Addressing gender inequalities in development and climate policy aims to enhance the collective welfare of societies and to benefit men and women. In most societies, however, it is often women who are historically excluded from or dis...

Table of contents

• Front Cover
• Title Page
• Copyright Page
• Contents
• List of Figures, Tables, Boxes, and Case Studies
• Abbreviations
• Introduction
• Module 1: Gender and Climate Change
• Module 2: The Climate Policy Landscape
• Module 3: Making Climate Finance Work for Inclusive Mitigation
• Module 4: Mainstreaming Gender – From Policies to Projects
• Annex: Icebreakers and Energizers
• Footnotes
• Back Cover