UPSCALING
GENDER- JUST
CLIMATE
SOLUTIONS
Overcomingbarrierstotechnologytransferand
developmentfromagender-justapproach
About
Thispublication is theoutcomeof two capacitybuildingworkshops co-organizedbyWomenEngage for a
Common Future (WECF) and the Climate Technology Centre & Network (CTCN) on up-scaling gender-just
climate solutions. Among the participants were organizational leaders selected from among hundreds of
submissions worldwide for the Gender-Just Climate Solutions Award by the UNFCCC Women and Gender
Constituency(WGC);aswellasseveralclimatetechnologyandgenderexpertsinvitedbyWECFandtheCTCN.
Theobjectivewas toshare lessons learnedandbestpractices fromclimate initiativesaroundtheworld that
integrate a gender-responsive, or even a gender-transformative approach, and to identify approaches to
overcome barriers to up-scaling. WGC and the CTCN share the conviction that gender-responsive climate
solutionsensuremoreeffectiveandsociallyjustclimatepoliciesandaction.
The objective of theworkshopwas also to compile lessons learned and best practice experiences from the
field.Thisresourceguideintendstosharethoselessonswidely.Thisresourceguideentailsthepresentations
andexperiencesharingofmorethan10gender-responsiveclimateinitiatives,lookingatchallengesandlessons
learnedfromdifferentgeographical,ecologicalandsocialcontexts.Theresourceguidehasbeendevelopedas
atoolforourawardwinnersandotherorganizationslookingtoupscaletheirgender-justclimatesolutionsor
projects.
WinnersoftheGender-JustClimateSolutionsAwardareasfollows:
2018
● Transformationalsolution:CFLEDD,CongoDRC-Women'sformalaccesstolandrightscontributesto
thefightagainstdeforestation
● Non-technicalsolution:GreenlivingMovement,Zambia-Communitystrategiesforclimate-resilient
livelihoods
● Technicalsolutions:NaireetaServices,India-Bhungroo:smallwomenfarmersowninganddeveloping
aninnovativerainwaterharvestingtechnology
2017
● Transformationalsolution:GenderDevelopmentAssociation,LaoDPR-Genderassessmentofnon-
timberforestproductionandcapacitybuildinginnorthernuplandsLaoPDR
● Non-technicalsolution:NAVDANYA&SOL,India&France-Womenasseedconservationandagro-
ecologyexpertshelpingtheircommunitiesresistclimatechange
● Technicalsolution:BetterWorldCameroon,Cameroon-Africakitchenrevolution:trainingwomenon
transferablemud-buildingtechniques
2016
● Transformationalsolution:ENDAGrafSahel,Senegal-Strengtheningwomen’sancestralandartisanal
fisherypracticestopreservemangrovenaturalresourcesintheSaloumdelta
● Non-technicalsolution:YAKKUMEmergencyUnit,Indonesia-Empoweringwomen’sgroupsindisaster
proneareasthroughcommunitybasedsustainablewatermanagement
● Technicalsolution:FondationMohammedVI,Morocco-Womenandschoolchildreninstallandusesolar
cookerstopreservetheArganforest
2015
● Transformationalsolution:TulelePeisa,PapuaNewGuinea-Community-ledrelocationeffortbythe
CarteretIslanderswhofaceextinctionfromclimatechangeimpactsandextremeweatherevents
● Non-technicalsolution:GenderCC-SouthAfrica-Raisingawarenessongenderintegrationinclimate
changeadaptationandbuildingcommunityresilience
● Technicalsolution:IslandECo,MarshallIslands-Trainingyoungwomenintheprinciplesandinstallation
ofsolarphotovoltaicDCrefrigeration
TableofContents
1. ExecutiveSummary 1
2. Accessingclimatefinance 2
2.1 Overcomingfinancialbarriers 2
2.2 Examplesofclimatefinancesources 8
2.2.1 Fundsavailabletomemberstates 9
2.2.2 UNFCCCFinancialMechanism 10
2.2.3 Privatefinance–supportprovidedbyPFAN 14
2.3 Databasesforidentificationofclimatefunds 15
2.3.1 NDCPartnershipClimateFinanceExplorer 15
2.3.2 ClimateFundsUpdate 16
3. Overcomingtechnologybarriers 16
3.1 Nationalclimateprocesses 19
3.2 Accesstotechnologysupport 19
3.2.1 CTCN 19
3.2.2 NDCPartnership 20
3.2.3 IUCNGGO 21
3.2.4 LEDSGP 21
3.2.5 CCAC 22
4. Societalandculturalnorms 23
4.1 Gendermainstreaming 26
4.2 Changingmindsetsforgenderequality 28
5. Organizationalchallenges 31
6. Wayforward 34
1
1. ExecutiveSummaryGender equality and gender mainstreaming are increasingly recognized as imperative for the effective
implementationoftheParisAgreement.Womenandmenaredisproportionatelyimpactedbyclimatechange
duetogenderinequalitiesandsocio-culturalnormsaffectingaccesstoandcontroloverfinancialandphysical
resources,knowledge,anddecision-makingpower.Whilewomencontributesignificantlytocombatingclimate
change, their initiatives face higher barriers for up-scaling. Supportingwomen andmen to overcome these
barriers provides an opportunity for climate approaches to be more effective, sustainable and equitable,
leadingtobroaderandsharedbenefits.Thelessonslearnedinthispublicationaretheresultsoftheexperience
sharing between the Gender-Just Climate Solutions awardwinners and participants of theWECF and CTCN
upscalingworkshops.
Sustainablebusinessmodelsandequalaccesstofinance
Manywomen-ledinitiativesfacechallengesinaccessingfunds,especiallycorefunding,toensurethelong-term
sustainability of their projects. Lack of financial support creates barriers to accessing technical equipment,
training,awarenessraisingandcampaigning.Understandingthemarketanddevelopingviablebusinessmodels
provides an opportunity to attract funds and private sector engagement. Capacity building on developing
business plans can, for example, be sought through organizations such as the Private Financing Advisory
Network (PFAN) and theClimateTechnologyCentre&Network (CTCN) for finance readiness. Several of the
award-winners in the workshop have also identified alternative financing mechanisms, such as forming
cooperativestoaccessmicro-credits.
Technologyaccessandknowledge
Organizations often experience difficulties in identifying technology needs and potential solutions. Due to
socialandculturalnormsregardingwomen'sroleinsociety,itissometimesachallengetogetacceptancefor
womentargetedtechnical training, leading tounequalaccess tonotonly trainingbut technologiesandtheir
benefits. Transfer of knowledge and training local men and women presents an opportunity to adapt the
solutions tocultural, socialandclimaticconditionsand facilitateup-scaling.Therearemanyopportunities to
build the capacity of organisations to conduct technical feasibility studies, receive training and seek outside
technicalsupport,forexamplethroughorganizationssuchastheCTCN.
Socioculturalnormsandlegalimpediments
Up-scaling gender-just climate solutions requires overcoming social, cultural and even legal barriers such as
customary laws.Aworkshopparticipant fromMoroccodescribedhowwomen,whoareproducingarganoil,
facedchallengesasthelandwaslegallyinheritedbymen.Thisinturnlimitedwomen'saccessandrighttothe
landtheywereworkingonandhinderedproductivityandup-scaling.Businessdiscussionswereoftenheldat
caféswherewomenwerenot allowed, even thoughwomenwerebehindmajorityof thework. Participants
fromLaos, India and Indonesia sharedhow in certain regions itwasdifficult to getwomen toparticipate in
communityfarmermeetings. Implementingtrulygender-transformativeclimateactionrequirespatienceasit
oftentimesmeans redistribution of power and resources. Lessons learnedwas that looking for fundswhich
specifically target gender-responsive programmes can help overcome some of these challenges. Other
successeswereusingparticipatorytoolsandmethods,andworkongenderawarenesscampaignsforexample
throughwomenandyouthbutalsoincludingmenasgenderchampions.
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2.AccessingclimatefinanceManywomen-ledprojectsexperiencechallengesinfindingsustainablefundingorsustainablebusinessmodels
to ensure that their solutions can bemaintained or replicated over time. Short termor conditional funding
cannotbebridgedbythebeneficiaries,duetotheirverylowrevenues.Inruralcommunities,womencannot
afford the necessary investment in equipment for replication, maintenance or replacement of adopted
technologiesorotherresourcestheymayneed.Trainedbeneficiarieslackfinancialsupportforthecreationof
micro-enterprises, and there is a need for increased awareness and capacities among a wider group of
beneficiaries.Forthesamereasons,itissometimesdifficulttoinvolvetheprivatesectorinrural/poorareas.
InMorocco,theprogrammeMinAjliki1runbythegovernmentwiththesupportoftheBelgianDevelopment
Cooperationhassupportedover5,000womenwithentrepreneurshipskillsthroughincubatorssince2013,but
there is no dedicated government scheme aimed at providing women entrepreneurs or associations with
grantsor loans. In2018,Senegal launchedagovernmentlineofcreditforwomenandyouth,but it isrunby
thepresidentialadministration(DER/FJ)andseemsdifficulttoaccessforruralwomenwhoarenotconnected
topoliticalstructures.
Inmanycountries,womenunitetocreateself-helpgroupsandcooperativestructures,pullingtogethertheir
individualsavingsandin-kindcontributions.Thiscanhelpthemaccessmicro-credits,whichareoftenvitalfor
their small businesses or associations but cannot enable them to scale up and invest in bigger technical
equipment. The challenges are structurally inherited from patriarchal social norms, thus very difficult to
overcome.Inmanydevelopingcountries,financialinstitutionschargehighunregulatedratesforpoorpeople.
Theseratesareoftenhigherforwomen,asmencanoffercollateralguarantees,suchaslandorproperty.But
womendon’thavethesameaccesstolandorcapital,thustheyarelessabletoleveragefinanceandsuffera
doublediscrimination.
2.1. Overcomingfinancialbarriers-challengesandsuccessfactors
Bunghroo,India:Leveragingeconomiesofscaleandgovernmentsupport
Bunghroo is an affordable and simple rainwater-collecting technology developed by a social enterprise,
NaireetaServices,thatenablessmall-holderfarmersincoastalareasofIndiatosavecropsfromwaterlogging
duringmonsoonandensureenoughirrigationindryseasons.Althoughinitialinvestmentinthetechnologyis
high, a co-ownership model has enabled women farmers to access the Bunghroo technology. Naireeta
Services is leveraging the financial support received from provincial authorities to disseminate the
technologyforastandardizationoftheBunghroounit’sproductionleadingtoeconomiesofscaleandlower
unitpriceforthefarmers.Thestandardizationalsoappliestothecostingmodelwherethedesignprinciples
for constructionof the technology aswell as identificationof location is provided to the farmers at a no-
profit rate, while the farmers purchase drilling andmaterials directly from themarket and construct the
Bhungroo at their convenient time. This spreads the costs and allows farmers more time to install the
1http://minajliki.ma/
3
Bhungroo.Additionally,theCTCNandWGCcapacitybuildingworkshopinspiredanewcostmodelforaccess
totheirtechnology.Theyarenowchargingrichfarmers,industriesandcorporationsaspertheircapacityto
pay. The profits from these sales are shared to allow for sales at lower prices to smallholder farmers,
enablingthemtoovercomefinancialbarriersandscaleupthedisseminationofthetechnology.
Eco-Island,MarshallIslands:Exploringinnovativebusinessmodelsforwomeninamale-dominatedsector
Eco-IslandisbuildingonthespecificskillsofwomenandapplyingthemtothefieldofsolarPVandelectric
appliancesbysupportingwomen’smotivationtolearnandacquirenewskillsforaprofessionalactivity,and
ultimatelyemployingthemforSolarPV installationsonthe island.Thecompany isfinding itchallengingto
sustain employment for the girls. The national electric utility could employ the girls once they have been
trainedbutrecruitersarenotmotivatedasitisamale-dominatedsector.InthePacific,theelectricitymarket
isdominatedbydonor-funded large-scaleprojects (offering free installation services) thatprevent smaller
businessestodevelopastheycan’tcompetefinancially.ThechallengeforEco-Islandisinvestmentcapitalto
scaleupbutalsounderstandingthedemandanddistributionmodels.Severaloptionsandmodelshavebeen
considered by Eco-Island, like developing an Energy Service Company (ESCO). ESCO’s sometime employ
innovativefinancingmethodssuchasreducingenergycoststhroughenergyefficiencymeasuresandenergy
savings,wherethesavingscostsareusedtopaybackthecapitalinvestmentoftheprojectoveragiventime
period.Eco-Islandalsoconsideredchallengingthenationalutilitycompany,whichproduceselectricitywith
dieselunits,byprovidingamoresustainableandoverallbettertechnologysuchassmartgrids.Sofar, the
utilitycompanyisusingdiesel.Anextoptionwouldbetoevaluatehowtheprojectcanbealignedwiththe
country’snewNDCstrategyaimingathavingatleast20%ofwomenelectriciansinthenextdecade.
Navdanya&SOL,India:Community-supportedagriculturalnetworksasabusiness-model
NavdanyahassuccessfullyorganizedparticipatorymeetingsinvillagesinIndiatodiscusstheissueofseeds
conservationandbiodiversityprotection.Womenwereatthecentreofthesediscussionsbecausetheyare
responsible for food provision and processing. This participatory process led them to become seed
conservation experts. They have developed the concept of “soksha”: drying vegetables and fruits during
summer (with solar dryers), for better conservation in winter. As a result, they developed a network of
trained energy ambassadors to visit households and inform/train themon sustainable energy and energy
efficiencysolutions.Theyarealsoconsideringcommunity-supportedagriculturenetworks,liketheTeikeiin
Japan, or AMAP (Association pour leMaintien d’uneAgriculture Paysanne) in France. These activities can
leadtodevelopingautonomousbusinessmodels,bysellinghighvalueagriculturalproducts,energysolutions
and services. However, challenges remain in accessing initial finance to support these initiatives and
accessinghigherincomemarkets/householdsthatcanaffordtheproducts.
4
Keylessons
● Identifynationalpriorities:Byidentifyingnationalgoalsandplanswhicharealignedwiththeservice
or solution you are seeking support for; you can make a better case for receiving domestic funding. For
example, the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), Technology Needs Assessments (TNAs) and
TechnologyActionPlans (TAPs)areexamplesofnationalclimateplanswhichyoucouldhavea lookat.Read
moreabouttheseonp.19.
● Understandyourmarketandbeneficiaries:Regardlessifyouareafor-ornon-profit,itisimportantto
understand the market in order to identify new opportunities for accessing climate finance. Find your key
clients and beneficiaries. Like the Eco-Island example above: identifywhatmarket shares can be taken. Are
theyruralorurban?Publicorprivate?Conductastakeholderanalysis togetanoverviewof theplayersand
potentialclientsinvolved.
● Defineyourgoals:Evaluateyourvalueandgoalsandmakeitclearinyourmindwhichapproachsuits
you,whether it’s about continually increasingprofit, benefittingawider community, servinganichemarket
etc. Hardwork beginswith putting preliminary documents and information in place, andmapping out your
organisation’srationale,valueandgoals.
● Develop your businessmodel:Makeabusiness case for yourorganisation, regardless if it’s centred
aroundclimatemitigationoradaptation.Whatdoyouneedtoputinplacetoattractfinancing?Acommontool
istheBusinessModelCanvas,whichcanbeausefulframeworkformappingoutthemaincomponentsofyour
idea.Itallowsyoutolaythegroundworkforyourbusinessandchangeswitheveryiterationyougothrough.It
describeshowyoucreate,deliverandcapturevalue.Althoughithasacorporateringtoit,socialentrepreneurs
andorganisationsalsouseittodevelopviablemodelsforfinancingandlong-termfinancialsustainability.
● Buildrelationships:Ifyouareapplyingforfundingwithaninstitution,don’tforgetthatyouasaperson
areapplyingtoanotherpersonsittinginaninstitution.Youneedtoknowyourmarket,projectandeverysingle
aspectofit.Don’tbefearfuloftheotherpersonbutbuildarelationshipwiththem.Beconfidentandconvince
themwhytheyshouldprovideyouwithfunds.
● Understandingaccesstofinance:Womenaregenerallylessawareofthesourcesoffundsavailableto
them. Even when they understand how finance is structured and the different value chains, they are less
trainedinhowtoframetheproposalordevelopthebusinessplan.Achallengeisoftenthatthereisnostrong
financialteamintheorganisationtomanagethebudgetanddevelopfundingproposals.Therecouldalsobe
language barriers that limit access to international funding. A good start would be to hire someone with
financial expertise to assist and build relationships with various institutions. Another option is to apply for
technicalsupportfromorganisationstobuildthecapacityofexistingstaffandbridgeknowledgegaps.Thisis
not like applying for grants but more like seeking hands-on support which can be provided for free either
nationallyorinternationally.These“investorreadinessprogrammes”canbeappliedforwithe.g.USAID,CTCN
andotherinternationalinstitutions.Itisalsoimportanttonotethatthepoliticallandscapecanmakeitdifficult
toaccessfundingincertaincountrieswherefundstendtogotowardslargeprojectsandorganisationspushing
forindustrialisationratherthanlow-scalebottom-upgender-justinitiatives.Forabriefoverviewoftheclimate
5
financing structures andmechanisms, andorganizations that canprovide capacitybuilding, see chapters2.2
and2.3.
● Useexpertisehelp:LooktowardsorganizationslikethePrivateFinancingAdvisoryNetwork(PFAN)2to
answerquestionsonforexamplewhattypeoffundingyoushouldbeseeking.Areyoulookingatseedcapital?
Equityfinance?Mezzaninefinance?Loans?Canthebusinessabsorbtheloan?Youmayneedexpertisehelpto
put ittogether.PFANidentifiespromisingcleanenergyprojectsatanearlystageandprovidesmentoringfor
attractingfinance(p.15).
● Find complementary service areas: In the Eco-Islands example above, the organization was
considering taking on the national utility company for a share in the renewable energymarket. It does not
alwayshavetobeaDavidandGoliathsituation,butsometimesyoucanfindopportunitieswhereyourwork
complementstheworkofanotherinstitution.AnexampleisinZambiawheretwoutilitycompaniesentereda
partnership;onestate-ownedcalledZESCO,theotherbeingCEC(CopperbeltEnergyProduction).Becausethe
nationalpowercompanywasunabletoprovidestableandsustainablepowertothemines,theentrepreneurs
atCECsawanopportunitytobuildtheinfrastructureandpartnerwithZESCO.Theythentookthisshareofthe
market fromtheutility.ZESCOdidn’tmindas theydidn’thavethiscapacityanyway.Followingthisexample,
Eco-Islandcouldhelptheutility inMarshall Islandsphaseoutdieselandfindasegmentofthemarketwhere
theyarenotcompetingwiththegovernmentbutrathercomplementingit.
“Thebiggestchallengeisforwomen’sself-helpgroupstofindanappropriatefinancial
mechanism,enablingthemtoinvestintheBhungrootechnologywhentheinvestment
amountisconsideredtoosmallforbignationalbanks,butexcessivelyhighforthelocal
women,comparedtotheirmonthlyrevenues.”
TruptiJain,NaireetaServices,Bhungroo,India
2http://pfan.net/
6
● Identifyoneortwoanchorclientsorkeybeneficiaries.Thesearebusinessesorindividualswithwhom
youwill have an on-going relationship and a steady flow of projects and income. This would contrast with
clientsor targetgroups forwhomyouperformanoccasional task. In thecaseofEco-Islandon theMarshall
Islands,agoodexampleofananchorclientfortheir islandrenewableenergybusinesswouldbeforexample
the fishing industry. Telecom would be the largest client, but they are government owned. Supermarkets
wouldalsobeagoodanchorclient(andtheyhaveparkinglotsthatcouldsolvethelandproblemasyoucould
putsolarontheroof).
● Use alternative finance models such as cooperatives. Such democratic (1 person = 1 voice) and
collectiveownershipstructurescancreateopportunitiesforwomentoclimbthesocio-economicladderinpoor
ruralareas,wheretraditionallymenaredominatingtheeconomy.
● Raiseambition:Womenhavecapacityandability,butinmanycasestendtobemorecautiousorless
ambitious. Women do not only look at the profit aspect of the business but also at social impacts, while
keepingtheinterestoffamiliesinmind.Acommonmistakemadebywomen’sorganizationsisnotaskingfor
therealisticallyneededfinancingamountbecausetheyfearnotreceivinganysupportifaskingforatoohigh
amount.Theproblemthen is thatyou thenencounterdifficulties inaccessing theneededco-funding,which
endangersthefeasibilityoftheentireproject.
7
Bestpracticeexample:alternativefinancemodels
UCFA,UnionofArganOilWomenCooperatives,Agadir,SouthMorocco
TheUCFAisthefirstandbiggestUnionofArganOilWomenCooperativeswhichaimstoguaranteeatop-
qualityproductanda fair income to the1,200Berberwomen in22cooperatives inSouthWestMorocco
thathelp toproduce it. The cooperativesprovidean independent income forwomenas they control the
entirevaluechain,fromthecollectionandtransformationofthenutuptothesaleofthehighvaluefinished
cosmetic or food product. In this way, women have a recognized place in the economy and can then
participate in other decisions like argan forest protection, or the introduction of climate-friendly
technologies. In Morocco, they started with the women’s own savings but then formed them into
cooperativesandhavenowbeenabletocreatebusinessmodelsandbuildthebusinessuptoacertainlevel.
The women also formed a consortium, with the intention of looking for international markets for their
products.Evenwiththe8%interestrate,womenstillfeltconfidenttotaketheloan,astheyweresurethey
wouldgetaharvest.All theworkwasdoneby localworkers,buttheygot international labstoverifythat
theirproductmetinternationalstandards.
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“It’simportantthatwomenbepresentinthefieldofenergy.They
canmakesureknowledgeispassedontotheirchildren.”
JamilaIdbourrous,FMVIRSA,Morocco
2.2. Examplesofclimatefinancesources
Climatefinanceisnotgenderneutral.Womenareoftendisproportionatelyaffectedbyclimatechangedueto
persisting gender-specific norms and gender-based discrimination, which also limit their access to finance,
information, property rights etc.Women are also disproportionately represented in the informal sector, do
morereproductiveandunpaidcareworkandsufferunderincomegaps.Thereisaneedformoreprivatesector
investments inmicro-andsmallprojectandnot justmediumand large-scale, inordertoaccessandsupport
the women who are usually found in these sectors. Gender-just climate finance looks at projects which
considerlong-termgenderimpactsandpromoteequalopportunitiesformenandwomentoprovideinputand
participate throughout the project cycle. It also looks at equitable access to the benefits of the project and
plansprojectoutcomesandoutputsthatrespondtodifferentialgenderneeds.
Difficulttogetafullpictureofclimatefinanceflows
Itcanbetrickytogetanoverviewofhowmuchclimatefinanceispledged,approvedandavailablegloballyas
notall sourcesprovidepublicdataand there is a lackof a centraldatabase tracking the status in real time.
Most transparency is available fromMultilateral Development Banks (MDBs) andmultilateral climate funds
suchasUNFCCCfunds.However,this isasmallsub-segmentofallmoneyflowingaround.Asprivateclimate
finance and domestic flows are not transparent, nor recorded, there is no comprehensive understanding of
whatsizeoffundingisavailable.Developedcountrieshavejointlypledgedtomobilize100billionperyearuntil
2020 (variety of public, bilateral, multilateral and alternative sources) as part of their climate debt. It is
officiallya“debt”,asit istheconsequenceoftheCO2emissionsaccumulatedmainlybydevelopedcountries.
Thechallengeisthatvoluntarycontributionsareunpredictableandmakeithardtoplanprojects.
9
Climatefinancecanbeaccessedfromseveralfundingsources,including:
● Privatefinanceandfoundations
● Multilateralinstitutions(suchasWorldBank,GreenClimateFund,AdaptationFund,etc.)
● Bilateralinstitutions-largelyaspartofOfficialDevelopmentAssistance(ODA)
● Regionalandnationalfunds
2.2.1. Fundsavailabletomemberstates
Belowyouwillfindexamplesoffundsavailabletomemberstates,inordertogetanunderstandingofthehigh-
levelclimatefinancelandscape. Insection2.3.youwill findguidanceonhowto identifyfundswhichmaybe
available directly to your organisation.While the examples below are available tomember states, at times
CSOsareinvitedtoparticipateintheprogramsforexampleaspartofconsultationsortrainings.CSOswould
benefitfromactivelyfollowingthesefundsandprogramsandidentifyingopportunitiesforengagement.
FrenchDevelopment Agency (AFD) Adapt’ Action:AFDhas launchedAdapt’Action, aEUR30million facility
which supports some of themost vulnerable countries along low-carbon and climate-resilient development
pathways.Throughtechnicalassistanceandcapacitybuildingactivities,theFacilitywillactasadrivingforcein
speeding up investments that have co-benefits for adaptation to climate change in the most vulnerable
geographical areas (Africa, least developed countries and Small Island Developing States). Countries which
receive support are for example Niger, Tunisia, Mauritius, Madagascar, the Comoros, and the Dominican
Republic. The type of support is centred around activities such as preparation of structural adaptation
programs,better integrationofNDCcommitments intosectoralpublicpolicies,andcapacitybuilding for the
implementationoftheNDCs.
10
TheNama Facility:TheNAMAFacility supportsdevelopingcountriesandemergingeconomies that showan
ambition to play a leading role in the field of climate protection. The Facility make the necessary funding
availableforthesecountriestobeginimplementingtheirNAMAs(NationallyAppropriateMitigationActions).
ThroughNAMASupportProjects,qualifieddeliveryorganisations(withstronggovernmentendorsement)can
applyforfundingopportunitiesintherangeof10-20millionEuros.TheNAMAFacilitywasjointlyestablished
bytheGermanFederalMinistryfortheEnvironment,NatureConservationandNuclearSafety(BMU)andthe
DepartmentforBusiness,EnergyandIndustrialStrategy(BEIS)oftheUnitedKingdom(UK).
GIZ Climate Finance Readiness Program: The Climate Finance Readiness Program (CF Ready) is a program
supportingdevelopingcountriesinaccessinginternationalfunds-especiallytheGreenClimateFund(GCF)-as
wellasidentifyingthebestuseforfinancialresourcesintwelveselectedcountries-Morocco,Namibia,South
Africa, Zambia, Tanzania, Uganda, Vietnam, Cambodia, Tajikistan and in the Caribbean region. Based on
countries’ needs, the CF Ready Program helps supporting national and regional climate finance institutions,
providing strategic and conceptual advice (NAMAs, NDCs, NAPs), and supporting project and pipeline
development.TheprogramhasbeencommissionedbytheGermanFederalMinistryofEconomicCooperation
andDevelopmentandisco-financedbytheUSAgencyfor InternationalDevelopment(USAID)andtheCzech
MinistryofEnvironment. It is implementedby theDeutscheGesellschaft für InternationaleZusammenarbeit
(GIZ) and the German Development Bank (KfW). Please note the program ends in 2019 and it needs to be
verifiedifarenewalisplanned.
2.2.2. UNFCCCFinancialMechanism
The main existing climate funds have been created within the context of the United Nations Framework
Convention for Climate Change (UNFCCC) to support developing countries and economies in transition
implementtheirmitigationandadaptationclimatepolicies.Themultilateralclimatefundsareallocatinggrants
forspecificprogramsmeetingtheirclimateobjectivesandshowingcompliancetotheirstandards.EveryFund
hasitsownfocalpoint,suchastheNationalDesignatedAuthority(NDA)orNationalImplementingEntity(NIE)
thatistheliaisonbetweenthecountryandtheFund.Asacivilsocietyorganisation,youcanapplytothemain
multilateral climate funds through the Fund’s focal point in your country, or via a call for direct
contributions/projectspublishedonarollingbasisbytheFund.
Civilsocietyorganisations(CSOs)thataimtoreceivefinancialsupportfromlargeclimatefundsareencouraged
to contact the national focal points for the fund directly to learn more about financing opportunities and
existingfundedprograms.Tofindoutwhothenational focalpointsareforyourcountry,pleaserefertothe
websitesofthefundsorthelinksintheresourceboxbelow.Beadvisedthatapplyingtolargerclimatefundsis
adifficultprocess for smallCSO’sandorganisations. It isoftenhelpful toapplyunder theumbrellaof larger
organisations to access these types of climate funds. Networking and strengthening partnerships are an
importantandsometimesoverlookedaspectofaccessingclimatefinance.
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AdaptationFund(AF)
The Adaptation Fund finances projects and programmes that help vulnerable communities in developing
countriesadapttoclimatechange.Initiativesarebasedoncountryneeds,viewsandpriorities.Toapplyfor
projectandprogrammefunding,countriesmustsubmitproposalsthroughanaccreditedinstitution(National
ImplementingEntities,RegionalImplementingEntitiesorMultilateralImplementingEntities).TheAdaptation
Fund pioneered a direct access modality in which accredited National Implementing Entities (NIEs) can
directly access financing, which provides developing countries with the opportunity to strengthen local
capacityandbuildonlocalexpertise.NIEsaresupportedthroughtheFund’sReadinessProgramme.ClimateObjective Adaptation
Sector Agriculture,Ecosystemadaptation,Energyefficiency,ForestryandLand-Use,Industry
andInfrastructure,RenewableEnergy,Rural,Transportation,Urban,Waste
management,OceansandCoastalResources,Disasterriskreduction,Gender,Water
Recipient Publicentityatthenationallevel,Publicentityatthesub-nationallevel,Publicentityat
theregionallevel,Privatesector,Non-profitorcivilsocietyorganization,Community-
levelorganization,Internationalorganization,Other
Grant Up to US $250,000 (small grants projects through
ProgramonAdaptationInnovation)
Co-financingnotrequired
Formore
information
www.adaptation-fund.org/
www.adaptation-fund.org/apply-funding/implementing-entities/
www.adaptation-fund.org/apply-funding/innovation-grants/
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GreenClimateFund(GCF)
The Green Climate Fund (GCF) promotes the paradigm shift towards low-emission and climate-resilient
developmentpathwaysbyprovidingsupporttodevelopingcountriestolimitorreducetheirgreenhousegas
emissions.Within the GCF, funding is also available for project preparation activities and climate finance
“readiness”. Project funding is channelled through Accredited Entities (AEs) and intermediaries. AEs are
either Direct Access Entities – sub-national, national or regional organizations – or International Access
Entities including United Nations agencies, multilateral development banks, international financial
institutions and regional institutions. Direct Access Entities are nominated by their National Designated
Authorities (NDAs)whoensure thatprojectsandprogrammesbenefit thecountryandareconsistentwith
nationalplans and strategies.AEsneednot act as thedirect implementerof fundingproposals. Executing
Entities (EEs), which are responsible for project implementation, might do this on behalf of AEs. EE
responsibilitiesaredefinedintheFundingProposal,andtheyareaccountabletotheirrespectiveAE.EEscan
beanything from internationalmultilateral institutions to smallNGOs–dependingon the set-upof the
projectandplannedactivities.OnlyAccreditedEntitiescanreceiveGCFfunding.Ifyourorganizationisnot
anAEbutwants toengagewithGCF,youmay– insteadof seekingaccreditation–partnerwithanAEon
implementingaGCFproject.SeealinktothelistofAEsbelow.
- The Simplified Approval Process Pilot Scheme (SAP) is a new application process for smaller-scale
projectsorprogrammes.Seetemplatesforapplicationbelow.
- NationalDesignatedAuthorities (NDA) ineachcountryproposeprojectsbasedupon theirnational
planningdocuments(NAPA,NAPs,NAMAs,NDCimplementation;nationaldevelopmentorenergyplanning)
- GCFisworkingondevelopingsmallerfundstosupportmicro-to-smallsizeprojectandmicro-,small-
andmediumsizedenterprises
ClimateObjective Adaptation,Mitigation,Cross-cutting
Sector Agriculture,Ecosystemadaptation,Energyefficiency,Forestryand
Land-Use,IndustryandInfrastructure,RenewableEnergy,Rural,
Transportation,Urban,Wastemanagement,OceansandCoastal
Resources,Disasterriskreduction,Health,Gender,Jobsand
Livelihoods,Poverty,Water
Recipient Publicentityatthenationallevel,Publicentityatthesub-nationallevel,
Publicentityattheregionallevel,Privatesector,Non-profitorcivil
societyorganization,Community-levelorganization,International
organization,Other
Grant SimplifiedApprovalProcess:upto
10millionUSD
Co-financing required for GCF
funding.Forprojects/programmes
thatmaynotleverageasignificant
level of up-front co-financing, the
13
accredited entity may instead
demonstrate a significant level of
indirect or long-term investment
mobilized as a result of the
proposedactivities
Formoreinformation www.greenclimate.fund/countries
www.greenclimate.fund/how-we-work/tools/entity-directory
www.greenclimate.fund/how-we-work/sap/templates
GlobalEnvironmentFacility(GEF)
GEF fundsareavailable todeveloping countriesand countrieswitheconomies in transition to implement,
amongthebroaddiversityofpotentialpartners,projectsandprogramsinrecipientcountriesthatcontribute
totheobjectivesoftheUnitedNationsFrameworkConventionforClimateChange(UNFCCC).Itssmall-grant-
program supports community-based innovation, capacity development, and empowerment of local
communitiesandcivilsocietyorganizationsinclimatemitigationandadaptation.
ClimateObjective Adaptation,Mitigation,Cross-cutting
Sector Agriculture,Ecosystemadaptation,Education,Energyefficiency,ForestryandLand-
Use,IndustryandInfrastructure,RenewableEnergy,Rural,Transportation,Urban,
Wastemanagement,OceansandCoastalResources,Disasterriskreduction,Health,
Gender,JobsandLivelihoods,Poverty,Water
Recipient GovernmentAgencies,CivilSocietyOrganizations,PrivateSectorcompanies,Research
Institutions
Grant Upto$50,000directly(forsmallgrantprogram) Co-financingrequired
Formore
information
www.thegef.org/gef/
www.thegef.org/focal_points_list
www.sgp.undp.org/
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2.2.3. Privatefinance-supportprovidedbyPFAN
Sometimesorganisationsneedcapacitybuildingandreadinesssupporttoaccessclimatefinance.Forexample,
the project may be viable, and investors are ready, but an in-depth feasibility study is needed to de-risk
investment or funding. The Private Financing Advisory Network (PFAN) can provide so-called tipping-point
support to access funding. PFAN is a network of independent consultants, coaches, investors, and other
stakeholdersinterestedincleanenergyprojectsandfinancing.Theorganisationhasraised1.46billionUSDfor
113projectssofar.ThePFANprojectportfolioconsistsofclimatemitigationandadaptationprojects.Thefocus
isheavieronmitigation,asfundscomefromtheprivatefinancesector,whichhasgreaterdemandsonreturn
on investment. Private finance, due to its multiplier effect, can make a huge difference in meeting the
countriesgoals.Thereisnotenoughpublicfinancetocoveralltheneedsatthegloballevel.
PFANbringsininternationalcoachestomatchprojectswithfinancingactors.Thisserviceisfreeforall:NGO’s,
privatesectoretc.There isacompetitiveselectionprocess;PFANlooksatprojectsthathavestrongbusiness
casesandarebankablebuthavenotyetbeenfinanced.Thereisofficiallynoprojectsizedefinition,butPFAN
projects are usually of the size of 5-15millionUSD. Theprivate sector favours larger projects, as theyoffer
morepossibilitiesforreturnoninvestment.PFANmustmakeclimateactionmeaningfulfortheprivatesector
andinvestors.
PFANgendermainstreamingishappeningonthreelevels:
• In the PFAN pipeline: as projects mature and PFAN provides coaching services, project leaders can
meet face-to-facewith investors. Previous experience inAsia has shown thatwomenentrepreneurs
havefeltmorecomfortablewithwomencoacheswhichhelpsbreakbarriers;
• ThroughthePFANnetwork:genderexpertscanenterthenetworkaspartners;
• PFAN calls for proposals for gender projects: for example, the ECOWAS project on mainstreaming
genderforaclimateresilientenergysysteminWestAfrica3togetherwithCTCNandECREEE.
Learnmore
● TheSocialBusinessModelCanvasisatoolforcreatingasolidbusinessmodelaroundyoursocialenterprise.
It’salsoacollaborativetoolthathelpsyoucommunicatedifferentbusinessmodelswithyourstakeholders:
www.socialbusinessmodelcanvas.com
● Contactinformationtocountryfocalpointsofclimatefundsandtechnicalassistanceproviders:
○ CTCNNationalDesignatedEntities(NDE):www.ctc-n.org/about-ctcn/national-designated-
entities/national-designated-entities-by-country
○ GCFNationalDesignatedAuthorities(NDA):www.greenclimate.fund/en/how-we-work/tools/country-
directory
○ GEFfocalpoints:www.thegef.org/focal_points_list
○ AFDesignatedAuthorities:www.adaptation-fund.org/apply-funding/designated-authorities/
● PFANprovidesfreebusinesscoachingandinvestormatchmakingtopromisingclimate&cleanenergy
3https://www.ctc-n.org/technical-assistance/projects/mainstreaming-gender-climate-resilient-energy-system-west-africa
15
entrepreneursinlow-andmiddle-incomecountries:www.pfan.net
● PresentationbyLianeSchalatek,Heinrich-BöllStiftung:“whyclimatefinanceactionsneedgenderjusticeto
succeed”,COP23Bonn2017:www.ctc-n.org/sites/www.ctc-n.org/files/liane_schalatek-
_why_climate_finance_actions_needs_gender_justice.pdf
● Heinrich-BöllStiftungvideosonclimatefinance:
○ "WhatisClimateFinance"www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Y9vM4e9XaM(availableinEnglishnarration
withsub-titlesinEnglish,French,Spanish)
○ GenderResponsiveClimateFinance":www.youtube.com/watch?v=YKmvdiXlDFI(availableinEnglish
narrationwithSub-titlesinEnglish,French,Spanish,Arabic,BanglaandPortuguese)
○ "GreenClimateFund(GCF)":www.youtube.com/watch?v=hiQ-Gs8NW3s(availableinEnglish
narrationwithsub-titlesEnglish,French,Spanish,Arabic,BanglaandPortuguese)
2.3. Databasesforidentificationofclimatefunds
2.3.1. NDCPartnershipKnowledgePortal-ClimateFinanceExplorer
TheClimateFinanceExplorer is adatabaseof internationalpublic climate financingoptions tohelp increase
transparencyandaccess.Itbringstogetherinformationonsourcesoffinancialsupportandpresentsthemina
standardizedanduser-friendlywaytohelpcountrypractitionersandotherstakeholdersidentify,understand,
andaccessrelevantfundingopportunities.TheClimateFinanceExploreraggregates inoneplace information
on themain international sources of public climate finance including finance from the international climate
funds,MultilateralDevelopmentBanks,bilateralgovernmentdonors,whichareexpectedtoplayakeyrolein
NDCimplementationalongwithdomesticresourcemobilization,particularlyindevelopingcountries.
Howdoesitwork?
Through application of filters for the region or type of institution you are seeking support, you can find
potential sources of climate funding and other support suitable to help finance your climate project or
program. Detailed information is available including eligibility criteria, and a description of the process of
accessingthesupport.Uptothreedifferentsourcescanbecomparedatatimetounderstandhowtheydiffer
fromoneanother.
WhatfundsareincludedintheClimateFinanceExplorer?
ThefundsincludedintheClimateFinanceExplorerprovidefinancialorin-kindsupportforoneormoreofthe
following: (1) scoping and project preparation, (2) creating enabling environments and building institutional
capacity, (3) project or program implementation, and/or (4) complying with UNFCCC requirements. This
includes several typesof financial instruments, includinggrants, concessional loans, guarantees,market-rate
loans, equity, and insurance. Funds included should be understood as complementing a broader set of
developmentfundsandfinancingopportunities.Eachentryinthedatabaserepresentsasinglefundorfacility
ofafundwithitsownuniqueeligibilityoraccessrequirementsandprocedures.
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2.3.2. ClimateFundsUpdate
ClimateFundsUpdateisanindependentwebsitethatprovidesinformationanddataonthegrowingnumberof
multilateralclimatefinanceinitiativesdesignedtohelpdevelopingcountriesaddressthechallengesofclimate
change.Itpresentsrelevantdataandinfographics,drawingfromofficialfunddocumentationinordertogive
users theopportunity toexplore the key aspectsof climate finance that arepledgedandapproved through
these funds. Thewebsite ismaintained by the Heinrich Boell Foundation (HBS) andOverseas Development
Institute(ODI).
Howdoesitwork?
ClimateFundsUpdateprovidesextensiveanalysedinformationabouttheexistingClimateFinancemechanisms
through a list ofmultilateral climate funds, aswell as data dashboard. The list ofmultilateral climate funds
trackedbyClimateFundsUpdategivesaccesstoanindividualfundpagethatoffersanoverviewofkeydetails
on each of the fund, including: a general fund description, fund governance and relationship with official
developmentassistance(ODA).Thedatadashboardpresentscumulativedataonthepledges,depositsandthe
projectapprovalsmadebymultilateralclimatechangefundstrackedbyClimateFundsUpdate.Theusercan
filterforthemesofclimatefinance,togettheinformationthatissearchedfor.
Learnmore
● ClimateFinanceExplorer:www.ndcpartnership.org/climate-finance-explorer
● ClimateFundsUpdate:www.climatefundsupdate.org
● CTCN/PracticalActionwebinaronfinancingenergyaccess:www.ctc-n.org/calendar/webinars/ctcnpractical-
action-webinar-energy-access-financing
● WEDOwebinar-IntrotoClimateFinance:www.wedo.org/webinar-intro-climate-finance/
3. Overcomingtechnologybarriers
Thedevelopmentof sustainable and gender-inclusive climate strategiesmust take special careof theneeds
andcontext indifferentnationaland local scenarios.To increase the impactof thosestrategies,weneed to
raiseambition.Aparadigmshiftandsystematicchangeinconsumptionandproductionpatternsisneededfor
an inclusive low-carbon and climate resilient development. In this sense, technology plays amajor role for
transformativechange.
Technologyisaconceptthatdoesnotonlyrefertophysicalequipmentbutalsototechniques,knowledgeand
skillsthathavebeendevelopedthroughtime.Itmustbeadaptedtothespecificneedsoftargetbeneficiaries
who must have their part in the decision-making process of the implemented technologies. Implementing
climatetechnologyprojects isadesireofallcountries,but it isoftenalsoachallenge.Somechallengesarise
regardingaccesstotechnicalsupport.Amongthemostcommononesisthelackoffundsfortrainingandskills
that enable project leaders and participants to acquire more knowledge on gender sensitive technologies.
Furthermore, equal access to knowledge and informationonbest practise examples and successful cases in
differentsectorsmightbelimited.
17
Theprioritizationoflocallyavailabletechnologiesandendogenousknowledgeisoftenanimportantoptionas
theyareeasilyaccessibleandadaptedtospecificclimateconditions.However,thereissometimesaneedfor
newideas,innovationsandtransferoftechnologiesfromoutside,whichshouldbeadaptedtothelocalcontext
andtechnicalcapacitiesofthereceivingbeneficiaries.Thisenablesaneffectivecreationofownershipamong
thetechnology.Specific training for thetargetpopulation isakey factor forbeneficiaries tomaster thenew
technicalsolutionsandtheirmaintenanceormonitorprojectresultslong-term(suchaswaterquality,energy
availabilityetc.).Thisisespeciallytrueforgender-responsiveprojectsaswomenhavelessaccesstotechnical
training and it is often a challenge to get social acceptance for gender-equal or technical training targeting
women.
BetterWorldCameroon:Accesstotechnologiesandtechnicalskillstraininginremoteruralareas
In rural Cameroon,most of the ruralwomen are using firewood and charcoal for cooking. This is causing
deforestation,CO2emissions,heavyindoorairpollution,andaffectingtheirhealth.However,duetolacking
resourcesandpatriarchalnorms,womenhavenoaccess to technologiesnor technical training to improve
thissituation.BetterWorldCameroon(BWC)hasdevelopedasimple,lowcost,mud-buildingtechnologyfor
women to build their own clean cookstoveswith localmaterials. The technology transfermodel relies on
participatorystovebuildingworkshopswithwomen’sgroups, inruralandforestcommunities,andtraining
of trainer’s programmes.Mud-building is simple technology using local, natural, ecological and affordable
materials. It is easy to replicate, adapt and upscale. Additionally, BWC supports the establishment of
cooperatives fostering income generation and organises annual meetings for all trainees to share their
challengesandsuccesses,improvetheperformanceofthetechnologies.Thishasledtotheconstructionof
mud-buildingforfoodstorage,animalsortools,enrichingfurtherthetechnicalskillsofthetrainedwomen.
Eco-Island,MarshallIslands:Landscarcityandweatherimpactsontechnologychoices
Astheorganizationfocusesonsupportingwomeninlearningandapplyingtheirskills inrenewableenergy,
solar PV and electrical appliances, they are dependent on high-quality functioning technologies and the
knowledgeof theirusage tosustain their initiative.However, theyareexperiencingchallenges in termsof
sustainingthetechnologyintheharshclimaticconditionsofhightemperaturesandhighhumiditywithsalt
content. They receive negative feedback from clients when their solutions fail, affecting the long-term
sustainabilityofthebusiness.Othertechnicalchallengeslimitingtheircapacitytoexpandistheissueofland
scarcity on the island and finding creative technical solutions for the instalment of renewable energy
solutions.Theyhaveconsideredvarioussolutions,butoff-gridwindpowerisforexamplenotpossibleasthe
wind is limited, and they need technical assistance to evaluate their options. The organization is seeking
support in accessing knowledge on technologies available on the globalmarket, such as through training
videos.Achallengehasbeentoidentifysuchmaterialinlocallanguages.
NaireetaServices,Bhungroo,India:Providingtailoredtechnicaltrainingforfemalefarmers
NaireetaServices,inventorsoftheBhungroorainwaterstoragesystem,havebeensuccessfulintransferring
technicalskillstowomeninthewatersector.TheimplementationofBunghroorequiredtotrainlocal
communitymembersforgoodappropriationofthetechnologyandbecausequalifiedmaintenance
personnelistoofarawayfromthevillages,solocaltechnicalexpertswereneededfortheconsistent
operationofthewatercollectingsystem.NaireetaServiceshaveadjustedtheirtrainingsupportmaterials,
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afterhavingnoticedthattheinformationwastootheoreticalandnotwellconveyed.Theyadaptedthe
designs,thelevelofinformation,translatedalldocumentsinlocallanguagetomakethemaccessible.They
hadtoovercomequalityissueswiththewaterpumps,aslocalsuppliersarenotallreliable.Afterseveral
attemptswithexternalexperts,thelocalmechanics,workingpatientlywiththewomenendusersenabled
NaireetaServicestoidentifyaninnovativewayoffindingbrokenwaterpumps:throughsound!Bylistening
andcomparingthesoundsofdifferentpumps,thewomencouldeasilyandintuitivelylearnhowtomonitor
theproperfunctioningofapump.NaireetaServicesisnowexpandingthisadaptedlineoftechnicaltrainings
through3D-animationswithvoice-overinlocallanguage,andmobileappswithlisteningfunctions.
Keylessons
● Review your technical needs: Depending on the scale of the project, a proper technical feasibility
studymightbeuseful.Assess thedetailsofhowyou intendtodeliveraproductorservice, suchasmaterial
needs, labour, transportation, locationetc. It is a useful tool for long-termplanning and should support the
financial information of your organization. In the example above, a detailed technical study looking at the
feasibilityforrenewablesonMarshallIslandscouldfocusonquestionssuchaslandavailabilityandbestland-
use options for installation of renewables, cost-benefit analysis of best technology solution, calculation of
greenhousegasreductionpotential,optionsforfacilitatingasociallyandfinanciallyenablingenvironmentfor
uptake of the technology, mapping of stakeholders and suppliers, and technology risk analysis should
unforeseeneventsoccurrelatedtoclimatechange,shiftingpoliticallandscapesorotherreasons.
● Seekexpertsupportforcapacitybuildingandtechnologytransfer:Byconnectingwithorganizations
who provide support for technical assistance you can build your knowledge and capacity for technology
transfer and uptake. One example is through the CTCN’s Technical Assistance or Fast Technical Assistance
programme. Requests for support must be submitted via your country’s National Designated Entity (NDE).
Readmoreinchapter3.2.
● Lookatbestpracticeexamples:Thereisawealthofknowledgeoutthereandhavingalookthrough
oneof themany knowledgeportals providing case studies andbest practice examples, such as through the
knowledgeportals listed inchapter3.2,mightprovide insightsand inspiration intosimilarprojects, technical
challengesandhowtoovercomethem.
● Expandyournetworkandconnectwithotherorganizationsaroundtheworlddoingsimilarwork.Build
relations and explore innovative ways of mutual support. Especially in terms of over-coming technology
barriersitcouldbebeneficialtocollaboratewithforexampleschoolsanduniversities.Yourorganisationwould
bring presence on the ground (through your activities and local partners), and the academic partners
contributionwould be in terms of technical research and know-how to support your operations and needs
whilegainingaccesstothefield.
19
● Identify tools which may support your project management and communication challenges. Many
NGOs have been at the forefront of using ICT and other communicative technologies, such as local radio
broadcastingofweatherinformationandSMSalerts.
3.1. Nationalclimateprocesses
Climate technologiescanrelate tomanydifferentpractises, starting fromtraditionalknowledgetohigh-tech
industrial processes. Various national technology and climate changeplans andprocesses that are useful to
knowaboutare:
● TechnologyNeedsAssessments(TNA)
The TNA supports national sustainable development by building national capacity and facilitating the
implementationofprioritizedclimatetechnologies.Ithelpstounderstandthetechnologyneedsthatmustbe
determinedinordertoreducegreenhousegasemissionsandadapttotheadverseimpactsofclimatechange.
This support is provided by a national teamwhich does a stakeholder consultation to determine priorities,
barriersandimplementationstrategies.
● NationalAdaptationPlans(NAP)
The NAP aims to reduce vulnerability to the impacts of climate change by building adaptive capacity and
resilienceandfacilitatingtheintegrationofclimatechangeadaptationintorelevantnewandexistingpolicies,
programmes and activities, in particular development planning processes and strategies, within all relevant
sectorsandatdifferentlevels.
● NationallyDeterminedContributions(NDC)
Agreedunder theParisAgreement in2015, theNDCsrefer to theeffortsneededbyeachcountry to reduce
nationalgreenhousegas(GHG)emissionsandadapttotheimpactsofclimatechange. Theseclimateactions
determinewhethertheworldachievesthe long-termgoalsoftheParisAgreement inwhichaglobalpeakof
greenhousegas(GHG)emissionsisenvisionedsoon,afterwhichrapidreductionsareneededtostaywithinthe
1.5- or 2-degree goal. Of the 190 countries that submitted an NDC, more than 75 per cent mentioned
technology, and more than 100 developing countries expressed the need for international support for
technologydevelopmentandtransfertoimplementtheirnationalplans.
3.2.Accesstotechnologysupport
3.2.1. ClimateTechnologyCentre&Network(CTCN)
The Centre is part of the Technology Mechanism under UNFCCC created in 2014. CTCN offers technical
assistance,capacitybuildingandknowledgeexchangefreeofcharge.AnytypeoforganisationsuchasNGOs,
20
researchinstitutions,privatesector,nationalgovernmentandcivilsocietycanrequesttechnicalassistancevia
theircountry’snationalfocalpointcalledNationalDesignatedEntities.Theorganizationprovidessupportona
broadrangeofsectorssuchastransportsystems,waste,energy,andagriculture.
In order to facilitate the preparation and implementation of technology projects and strategies, the CTCN
supports action on mitigation and adaptation which seeks to enhance low-emission and climate-resilient
development taking into account gender considerations. For this, the CTCN helps to overcome technical
barriersand identify themost relevant technologyexperts from itsglobalnetworkofmorethan500private
sectorcompanies,researchinstitutionsandorganisations.
HowdoestheCTCNprovideitssupport?
The CTCN provides technical expertise and recommendations related to specific technology needs,
identification of technologies, technology barriers and efficiency, as well as piloting and deployment of
technologies.Theapplicationprocessfortechnicalassistanceisdonebydownloadingandcompletingafour-
page application from thewebsite and send it to theNationalDesignated Entity4of your country.Once the
Centrereceivestherequest,aresponseplanisdevelopedandexpertsfromitsNetworkcanbidondelivering
themostsuitablesupport.ArecentlydevelopedformofassistanceistheFastTechnicalAssistancewhichaims
toprovidetargeted,small-scaleandquicksupport.
Furthermore,theCTCNcanprovidereadinesssupportfordevelopmentofprojectproposalstoaccessclimate
financeand identify strategies for increasedambitionand impact. It is important tohighlight that theCTCN
doesnotprovidefundingdirectlytocountries.Fundingisprovidedviaimplementingpartnerswhodeliveron
thetechnologytransferandcapacitybuildingrequestedfromyourorganisationorcountry.
3.2.2. NationallyDeterminedContributions(NDC)Partnership
Every country presents different environmental challengeswhichmust be addressed following an approach
that is adapted to its conditions. For this, the NDC Partnership, known as a coalition of countries and
institutions engaged to enhance sustainable development, works directly with national governments,
internationalinstitutions,civilsociety,researchersandtheprivatesectortosupportclimateanddevelopment
action.
HowdoestheNDCPartnershipprovideitssupport?
TheNDCPartnershipprovidesaKnowledgePortalwhichisafree-to-useonlineplatformthathelpscountries
andorganisationsaccelerateclimateactionbyprovidingquickandeasyaccesstodata,tools,guidance,case
studies,andfundingopportunities.Usersareenabledtofindinformationaccordingtocommonneeds,
includingsectors,themes,countries,languages,andstagesofNDCimplementation.Withinthisplatform,itis
possibletogettoknowexamplesofgoodpracticeswhichcanillustrateandinspirestartingprojects.Thereare
resourcesavailableinEnglish,SpanishandFrenchthatareeasilysearchable.TheKnowledgePortalincludes
threemainentrypoints:
4FindtheNationalDesignatedEntity(NDE)ofyourcountry:https://www.ctc-n.org/about-ctcn/national-designated-
entities/national-designated-entities-by-country
21
● TheGoodPracticeDatabase providesexamplesofsuccessfulclimateactionandlessonslearnedwhere
countrieshaveovercomeobstacles,toenablecountriestolearnfromoneanother
● The Climate Toolbox draws together tools, guidance, platforms, and technical support from leading
institutionsinasearchabledatabasetohelpcountriesplanandimplementtheirNDCs.
● TheClimateFinanceExplorerhelpsyouidentifypotentialsourcesofclimatefinanceandlearnhowto
accessthem.Readmoreonp.16.
TheNDCPartnership alsoprovides technical assistance. TheNDCPartnership’sClimateActionEnhancement
Package is an offering designed to deliver targeted, fast-track support to countries to enhance the quality,
increasetheambition,andimplementnationallydeterminedcontributions.
3.2.3 IUCNGlobalGenderOffice(GGO)
GGOisanorganizationcommittedtoexpandingtheknowledgebaseongenderandenvironmentbycreating
tools and methodologies which lead to advances in gender-responsive sustainable development and
conservation goals. They lead training and provide technical support for capacity building, strategy
developmentandimplementation.
HowdoestheGGOprovideitssupport?
G-REEN Platform: This platform includes a discussion forum on various themes pertinent to gender and
renewableenergy, a listof relevantevents, an interactivemap showcasingprojects globally, anda resource
library that includes webinar recordings and hundreds of publications in regard to on various technologies
utilizedaroundtheworld.
The Knowledge Centre: It is a resource library with a wide range of the most up-to-date information on
experiences,methodologies,bestpractices,training,andmoreconcerninggenderandtheenvironment.
3.2.4. LowEmissionDevelopmentStrategiesGlobalPartnership(LEDSGP)
The LEDSPartnership, founded in 2011, brings together representatives fromgovernments, civil society and
theprivatesectorworkingtoadvanceonlow-emissiondevelopmentstrategiesacrossdifferentcontinents. It
aimstopromotelow-carbon,climate-resilientdevelopmentforpovertyalleviationbysupportinginitiativesin
thefieldsofagriculture, landuse,forestry,energyandtransportation.Withthis,theLEDSGPaimstoreduce
greenhousegasemissionsandachievesocial,economicandenvironmentaldevelopmentgoals.
HowdoestheLEDSGPprovideitssupport?
TheLEDSGPfacilitatepeerlearning,technicalcooperationandinformationexchangetosupporttheformation
andimplementationoflow-emissiondevelopmentstrategies.Ithasafocusonsupporttodevelopingcountries
22
andregions.ItoperatesthroughregionalplatformsinAfrica,Asia,EuropeandEurasia,andLatinAmericaand
the Caribbean. Thanks to its wide geographical reach it is possible for all members to share experiences,
knowledge,lessonslearnedandbestpractices.
The membership is free to organizations, individuals and governments working to promote LEDS at local,
national,regionalandglobal levels. Includedinthismembershipisaccesstoremoteexpertsupport,training,
workshops,remoteforums,technicalreportsandevents.
3.2.5 Climate&CleanAirCoalition(CCAC)
TheCCACExpertAssistanceisano-costservicethatconnectsanextensivenetworkofprofessionalsfor
consultationandadviceonarangeofshort-livedclimatepollutionissuesandpolicies,includingblackcarbon
andmethaneemissionsfromsourcessuchaswastemanagement,agricultureandtransport.Theservice
supportsrequestsfrompolicymakersandcivilservantsworkingtoreduceblackcarbon,methaneandHFCsin
specificsectorsoraspartofoverallmitigationplanningandimplementation.
Learnmore
● CTCNtechnicalassistance:www.ctc-n.org/technical-assistance
● NDCPartnershipknowledgeportal:www.ndcpartnership.org/knowledge-Portal
● NDCPartnershipClimateActionEnhancementPackage:www.ndcpartnership.org/caep
● IUCNG-REENPlatform:www.genderandenvironment.org/energy-resources/
● LEDSGP:www.ledsgp.org
● Climate&CleanAirCoalition:www.ccacoalition.org/en/solutioncenter/expert-assistance
23
4. Societalandculturalnorms
Gender-just climate solutions tackle gender roles and social norms within communities or territories.
Overcominggenderbarrierscanbechallengingas itrequireschangingculturalhabits,publicopinionoreven
adapt legal frameworks. Often it involves power redistribution so that access to information, finance and
resourcesaredistributedmoreequally.Incertainregionswomendonotengageinclimateinitiatives,suchas
participating in community farmermeetings on resilient crops or sustainable agriculture, due to patriarchal
normsdictatingwhich spaces they can enter or positions they should occupy. Involvingwomen in decision-
making processes from which they have been previously excluded requires patience. Implementing a truly
gender-transformative approach in projects can require more time, energy and creativity than originally
anticipated.PreviouswinnersoftheGender-JustClimateSolutionsAwardhavedemonstratedinnovativeways
ofovercominggenderbarriers related to societal and culturalnorms in their communities throughmethods
suchasgenderanalysis, involvingmenasgenderchampions,awareness raisingonthecontributionsofboth
menandwomentothecommunity,gendersensitizationexercises,publicspeakingtrainingforwomenandso
on. Seeking funds that specifically target gender-responsive programmes can help overcome challenges by
allowingforlong-termplanningandsecurityforyourorganisation.
The two examples from award winners below highlight common societal and cultural barriers to women's
accesstodecision-makingaswellasmale-dominatedjobs.
CFLEDD, Democratic Republic of Congo: challenging customary laws on land property rights forwomen
AccordingtoastudyconductedbytheorganisationCFLEDDin2016,70%ofwomenintheDRCdonothave
accesstolandandforesttitles.CFLEDDhasobtainedtherecognitionofwomen’slandandforestrightsinthe
provincesofEquateurandMaindombeoftheDRC,withtheaimtostrengthentheireffectiveparticipationin
reducingdeforestation.Thefirststepconsistedinovercominginheritedrivalriesamongwomenofdifferent
ethnicities,oftenderivingfromgenderdiscriminations,andunitingwomentoworktogetherfortheirrights.
An advocacy tool was then developed and used in dialogues between local and indigenous women,
customary chiefs and provincial authorities. Recommendations resulting from these dialogues have led to
the adoption of 2 provincial edicts that guarantee land and forest rights for women. All power levels,
customary chiefs, administration, legislature, executive, and judiciary, have committed to protecting the
rights of women. This transforms the country’s patriarchal framework, while strengthening the decision-
makingpowerofwomeninDRC’sforestmanagementpoliciesforclimateaction.
Eco-Island,MarshallIslands:womeninmale-dominatedworkplaces
Eco-Island trainswomen to install solarPV’s inMarshall Islands.As theenergy sector is generally amale-
dominated field, clientshavebeenhesitantwhenwomenshowup todo the installations. Seeing the ship
arrive with three women with technical equipment ready to take on installation work normally takes a
coupleofdaysforclientstoaccept,butovertimetheyhaveexperiencedagradualchangetowardsincreased
acceptance.Inthebeginning,amalecolleaguehadtojointoprovideasenseoflegitimacyfortheclientsand
24
helpnormalize thearrangement.Another societal challengeEco-Island isexperiencing is the challenge for
womentobalanceworkandprivatelife.Outofthegirlsthathavebeentrainedseveralhavehadtodropout
when becoming pregnant, demonstrating the need to adapt work arrangements to accommodate for
women’sspecificneeds,suchasflexibleworkschedulesandincentivesforreturningtowork,aswellasthe
importanceofovercomingsocialnormsinfluencingmarriageandwomen’sroleoutsidethehousehold.
25
Keylessons
● Genderequality isnotonlyaboutwomen: Involvementofbothmenandwomeningradualgender-
sensitization processes will prove more effective in ensuring that project benefits reach women and men
equally. Severalof theawardwinners in theworkshopworkedonawareness-raising campaigns forexample
throughwomenandyouthbutalsoincludingmenasgenderchampions.
● Initialmeetingswithbothmenandwomen:Similarly,whenattemptingdialogueswiththepurposeof
highlighting societal and cultural norms, a successful approach towards increased participation has been to
initiallydividemenandwomenintotwogroupsandapplyingvariousexercisessuchasthedailyschedule,role-
playing and resource mapping as described in chapter 4.1, and then bringing the two groups together for
broaderdiscussionsandlessonslearned.
● Stakeholderanalysis:Astakeholderanalysisisausefultoolforfindingwhichinternationalandnational
genderorganizationsandotherstakeholdersyoucanlinkuptoinsolidarityandreachouttoinordertoaccess
relevantgendertoolsusefulforadvocacyandcommunicationwork.
● Developa trainingof trainer’s program:Buildanetworkofspokespersonsandambassadors froma
widerangeofcommunitiestoadvocateforandover-comesocietalandculturalnormsthathinderwomenand
men’sequalparticipationinclimateaction.Thecombinedtrainingcanfocusongivingbacktothecommunity
throughcontinuedadvocacyworkandastructurewhere free training isprovidedgiven they in turnprovide
trainingforothers.
● Recognizewomen’s strengths:Womenareoftengoodatmaintainingworkingrelationshipswithcity
leadersandothergroupswhichisastrongargument infavourofencouragingwomentoattendforexample
farmers’ groups.Women also possess important traditional knowledge and experience which contribute to
climateaction in thecommunity if up scaled. InMorocco,wheremenoftencontinueconversations in cafés
where women can’t participate and thus miss out on important information, the award winner who
participated in the WECF and CTCN workshop has supported women through cooperative and by training
womenongainingthecouragetospeakoutandbelistenedto.
“Women,andmen,donothavelegalrightstoland.Even
ifwomenhaveaccess,theydon’thavelegalownership
becauseofourpatriarchalsystem.Weneedtoaddress
thelegalsystemthatisrootedincolonialthinkingandis
littlerespected”
DorothéeLisenga,C.F.L.E.D.D
26
● Work on building confidence: Building the confidence and skills of women to speak confidently by
providing training and access to information and knowledge is key to increasing women’s participation in
decision-making.
● Recognizeco-benefitsofwomen-ledenterprises: InMoroccothewomenneedpermissionfromtheir
mentoworkinthearganoilproducingcooperatives.Itwasn’tuncommonfortheircooperativememberstobe
beaten and have the littlemoney they earned taken away. After thewomen started self-help groups, they
wouldputtheirmoneytogetherinlittlesavings.Thegovernmentalsohelpedthemwithmicrocreditloans.As
thewomenstartedtheirsimplebusinesseswhichthengrewtomakeaprofit,theyputalltheprofitsback in
thebusiness.Withthewomenbringing inmoneytothehousehold,whileeducatingchildrenandperforming
othertasks,theyreportthattherelationshiptothemenhasimprovedanddomesticviolencedecreased.
● Inclusion through participatory approaches and tools:Adopting a trulyparticipatory approachwith
dedicatedtoolshasprovenakeysuccessfactorinmostofthepresentedprojects.Theparticipatoryapproach
enablesastrongerappropriationbythebeneficiaries,thusensuringthesustainabilityoftheproject,andallows
fortheuseoflocal,ancestralknowledgethataddseffectivenessandvaluetoundertakenactionsorsometimes
broadensthescopeoftheaction.Theparticipatoryapproachalsofavoursamoregender-responsiveaction.A
goodstartwouldbetoconductastakeholderanalysistounderstandalltheactorsinvolved.
4.1. Gendermainstreamingandwomen’sempowerment
Usinggenderanalysesandpromotingwomen’sempowermenthasproventobesuccessfactorsforovercoming
normsintheGender-JustClimateSolutionsAwardwinner’sprojects.Womenarekeentobetrainedandadopt
newtechniquesiftheycanforeseeavalueforimprovingtheirlivelihoodandthewell-beingofthecommunity.
They becomemajor drivers of change andmultiplierswithin the territory, or even on a broader scale, thus
highlycontributingtoanddrivinglocalclimateactionorregionalandnationalclimatepolicies.Womengroups
needtobesupportedandpromotedthroughtargetedtrainingsinclimatetechnologiesandpractises,actions
toincreasewomen’sincomeandaccesstofinance,andtrainingstoparticipateindecision-makingandimprove
publicspeakingskills.
Besidessupportingwomen’sempowermentthroughimprovingtheself-esteem,confidence,skillsandaccessto
information,gendernormscanalsobeovercomebyeducatingandsensitizingthebroadercommunityofboth
menandwomen.Thetool‘GenderinSustainableDevelopment-CollectionofExercisesforTrainingofTrainers’
linked below provides useful exercises to provide training on gender equality, gender analysis and gender
mainstreamingwhichcanbeusedbyyourorganisationwhenadvocatingorraisingawarenessongenderroles
andnorms.Aselectionofsomeofexampletoolsandexercisesarepresentedbelow:
Genderanalysis:Animportanttoolforover-comingsocietalnormsisbymakingthemvisiblethroughagender
analysis which provides an opportunity to reflect on the gender issues and provides a starting point for
determining how these issues should be addressed. A gender analysis provides an assessment on different
levelsofsociety,forexamplewomen’s,men’s,householdandcommunitylevel.Itanswersquestionssuchas:
who does what? who has access to/control over what? how does culture define or influence the access
to/controloverwhat?
27
Dailyschedule:Thisexercisewillallowpractitionerstogainpracticalknowledgeofthedivisionoflabourand
gender roles in the examined community, through studying the different workloads of women and men.
Analysingthese“dailyschedules”willshed lightonwhodoeswhatkindofwork, forhowlong,andwhohas
morefreetime.Femaleandmaleparticipantsshouldbeassembledinseparategroups.Participantsareasked
todescribeatypicaldayintheircurrentlifebywritingadetailedschedule,thatincludesalltheirdailyactivities,
suchaswork,householdchores,childcaretasks,leisuretime,etc.Participantsshouldmentionhowlongthese
activitiesusuallytakethem,andwhethertheyareperformingseveraltasksatthesametime,i.e.multitasking.
Whenanalysingtheseschedules,facilitatorsshouldtakethecurrentseasonintoaccount.Ifnecessary,theycan
askparticipantstowritedowntheirtypicaldayscheduleduringanotherseason.
Role-playing:Role-play isan interactivetoolwheretheparticipantsareassignedroles (participantscanrole-
playastheirowngenderorasadifferentgender)andareaskedtoactoutacertainsituation.Usingdrama,the
participant can act out a real situation in a relaxed atmosphere and relate to their characterswhile raising
awarenessontheissues.Forexample,afemaleparticipantcanbeaskedtonarrateacommonscenariofrom
herdailylifeathomewherebyamaleparticipantcanbeaskedtoactthisscenariooutandviceversa.
Resourcemapping:This toolwillallowpractitioners tobetterunderstandwomen’sandmen’saccess toand
controloverresourcesinalocalcontext.Theresourcemapcanprovidecrucialinformationontheabundance,
allocation,managementanduseofresourcesexistingwithinthecommunity.Femaleandmaleparticipantsare
assembled in separate groups. For this exercise, participants are asked to draw a map of their
village/neighbourhood, which includes the existing resources in the area. Maps can (and should) include
infrastructure facilities, water sites and sources, agricultural lands, forests, grazing areas, shops, markets,
health clinics, schools and childcare provisions, churches, aswell as any other places identified as relevant.
Oncetheirmap iscompleted,participantsshoulddescribe itandexplainwhytheychosecertain institutions,
resourcesetc.Theexpectationisthatwomenandmenwillchoosetohighlightdifferentresources.
“Women don’t want to start behaving like the ‘big
boys. They want to preserve their own ways and
values, which means that the enterprises they enter
shouldalsobenefitallofsociety,andnotjustbeapure
profit-makingventure.Wefeellikewehavetoshowa
socioeconomicbenefitfortheworld.”
FatouNdoye,EndaGraafSahel,Senegal
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4.2.Changingmindsetstopromotegenderequality
Howwomenaccess information, finance and resources is often governedbypublic opinionwhich in turn is
shaped by social norms. Empowering women as agents of change and active participants in climate action
requiresengagingthepublicandchallengingthosenormsandvaluesbymakingthemvisibleandshowcasing
thebenefitsofmoregender-justsocieties.Weneedinformedandengagedpeopleonoursideifwewantto
changehowthingsaredoneatourlocalcommunitycentreortochangealaw.Thisoftenrequirespatience,as
demonstrated by award winner Dorothée Lisenga from Congo DRC, who through her organisation CFLEDD
(CoalitiondesFemmesLeaderspourl’EnvironnementetleDéveloppementDurable)hasorganisednumerous
peaceful dialogues on women’s land inheritance rights between customary chiefs, local and indigenous
women. The organisation also uses community radios as a tool for relaying information and awareness.
Accordingtoa2016study,70%ofwomenintheDRCdiduntilrecentlynothaveaccesstolandandforesttitles.
Their advocacy approach through dialogues and communications sensitized the communities on women’s
rightsandbenefitsthereofandhasledtohugesuccessesinwomen’saccesstolandandforestrightsofwomen
intheprovincesofEcuadorandMaindombeoftheDRC.
Changingpublicopinionrequiresprovidingaccesstocontext-specificanalysesandknowledgeontheissueand
theimpactsongenderrelations.Aknowledgeresourcecanforexamplemeanastudyonhowclimatechange
impactsmen andwomen farmers differently in the community and the benefits of strengtheningwomen’s
accesstoland.Suchknowledgeresourcescanbeaneffectivetoolinraisingnotonlyawarenessbutalsofunds,
asitprovidesastrongargumentinfavourofyourorganisation’sclimateactions.Bygeneratingknowledge,we
canhighlight those voices that arenot alwaysheard.We canprovideabasis fordialogues andadvocacy to
thosewhohavepowertodecideontheissue,e.g.thegovernment,tochangelawsoraninternationalbodyto
act in a time of crisis. Advocating is a way to inform duty bearers and/or decision-makers of women’s
experiencesandholdthemaccountable.Themostsuccessfuladvocacyworkis linkedtobroadermovements
andamobilisedconstituencyinwhichthemostaffectedtaketheleadandspeakforthemselves.
Tools
● Genderimpactassessmentandmonitoringtool:
http://www.wecf.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/FINAL-GIM-Tool-Jan-19.pdf
● GenderinSustainableDevelopment-CollectionofExercisesforTrainingofTrainers:
http://www.wecf.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/GenderTOTinstrumentsupdatedversion.pdf
● ICT’sforFeministMovementBuilding-ActivistToolkit:
https://www.apc.org/sites/default/files/ICTs%20Toolkit_2015_0_0.pdf
● FeministParticipatoryActionResearch:
https://apwld.org/new-resource-feminist-participatory-action-research-report/
29
Bestpracticeexamples
GreenLivingMovement(GML),Zambia:
Duetoveryscarceresourcesandpoorfoodsecurity,womeninruralZambiaoftenliveinanegativespiralof
lackingskills,mobilisationandmotivation.GLMworkedwithawidesetoftoolstoovercomethisdestructive
trendandhelpwomenhavemorecontrolovertheirdestiny,therebypositivelycontributingtotheresilience
oftheircommunities.Thefirststepwastakenbyopeningdialoguespacesandcreatingplatformsforsharing
knowledge, with a diversified representation within the community, asking women farmers to lead the
knowledge sharing. They built on the experience of elders using storytelling and listening campaigns in
traditionallanguages,showcasing"ClimateChangeChampionFarmers"onlocalradio,orconductingphoto-
voice campaigns on community markets (photos were taken by the communities and discussed among
them).Thischangedthecurrentapproachtodeliveringinformationandimprovedthelevelofunderstanding
climaterelateddisastersandadaptationstrategieswithinthetargetcommunities,especiallyamongwomen
andyouth.Withsteady increase in revenue fromnewagriculturalproduction,womenheadedhouseholds
arenowabletoaffordschoolfeesfortheirchildren,toaccessmedicalcareandtoeat2to3mealsperday.
Thishastransformedtheattitudesofvillagersandthegenderrelationswithinthecommunities.Theproject
has also won enormous support from the media, local and traditional authorities and government
departments (Agriculture, Forestry and Veterinary). The "Climate Change Champion Farmers" are rural
women (60%),men and youth selected by the community for their outstanding understandingof climate
impactsandresiliencestrategies.Theyactasambassadorstoeducatepeopleinlocalmeetingsandmotivate
others to engage in the preservation of natural resources or sustainable agriculture. GLM has also
implementedenvironmentalclubsinschools,promotingwomenaseducators.
GenderDevelopmentAssociation:Genderassessmentasprojectstart
GDA used a women’s empowerment lens to bridge traditional harvesting practices with sustainable
livelihoodinitiativesinnorthernruraluplandsofLaoPDR,focusingonHmongandKhmuethnicgroupswho
havebeensystematicallymarginalized.Thankstoaninitialgenderassessment,GDAcouldidentifykeyareas
andpoliciesforrehabilitatingwomen’sancestralknowledgeandimprovingthefoodsecurityoftheseethnic
groups.Usingarights-basedgenderframework,theassociationconductedtrainingforwomenonfinancial
management topromote their financial independence.Bybuilding the capacityof thewomen tobecome
knowledgebearersinthefieldofNon-TimberForestProduction(NTFP),andincomegeneration,theproject
increasedtheirinclusionandtheirroleincommunitydecisions.
Enda Graaf Sahel, Saloum Delta, Senegal: Public speaking, participatory dialogue and changing toxic
masculinities
TheorganizationEndaGraafSahelinSenegalrecognizedlocalwomen’sancestralknowledgeinecosystems,
but noticed they were often side-lined by men and were not participating in decision-making. The
organisationworkedwithwomentobuilduptheirconfidencebyprovidingpublicspeakingclasses,resulting
inapositivechangeinwomen’sabilitytospeakoutatmeetings.Endaconductedgroupexercisestoanalyse
30
thedivisionof labourbetweenmenandwomenandopenedthemen’seyesontheburdenofunpaidcare
workassumedbytheirwives.Asignificantreductionofdomesticviolencewasreported inthehouseholds
thathadparticipatedinsuchexercises.
Enda Graaf Sahel also organized participatory dialogues, using dedicated tools, such as diagnostics with
formalizedquestionnaires.Thesedialoguesallowed to identifyandhighlight the importantcontributionof
women to the local economy. It alsohelped identify specific ancestral knowledgeownedbywomen, that
wereessential torestorefragileenvironments.Thisknowledgewassharedwithothervillagesandusedto
conduct ecosystem restoration in the mangroves. Finally, a citizen-scientist approach enabled women to
collaboratewithuniversitiesandstateinstitutionsonawiderehabilitationprogrammeoftheSaloumdelta,
which gained visibility via local radio stations and local churches. The women fisher implement shellfish
reseeding in the Saloum river delta; they created a replicable system to monitor the shellfish biological
rhythmandensurerestingperiodsviarestrictedareas.Theypromotetheuseofefficientstovestotransform
seaproducts.Thiscutstheburningoffuelwoodby75%.Alltheseactionshaveturnedwomenintoagentsof
sustainablechange.
EndaGrafSahelhasalsoconductedresearchonmasculinitywith localyoungactivists,whocameupwith
theinitiative,interviewingthepopulationhowmasculinitywasreflectedinthetimeofancestorsandhowit
is today with young people. This research triggered discussions on gender roles in the communities and
highlighted the heavy burden of unpaid domestic tasks carried out by women. The project also uses
standardizedtrainingmodulesongenderinequalitiesandwomen’sleadership.
GenderCC,SouthAfrica:gendersensitizationtobuildskillsforwomen
The organization ensured that women would be trained and able to install and maintain climate-smart
technologies, likebiogasdigesters,water conservation systems, and sustainable farmingmethods. Several
exercises and tools were needed to convincemen to allowwomen to gain such skills.Women gradually
became leaders and active members of their communities. Most of them have moved on to become
successfulentrepreneursandarenowtransferringtheirknowledgetootherpeople.Furthermore,theyare
advocatingatthenationallevelforthegovernmenttosupportclimateresilientpolicies,investinrenewable
energy and climate-friendly technologies. The governmentof SouthAfricahasbegun to include gender in
theirpolicies.
31
5. Organizationalchallenges
Forsomeorganizations, ithasbeenachallengetoadoptatrulyparticipatoryapproach,eitherduetogender
barriersthatpreventwomenfromactivelyparticipatinginpublicmeetings,orduetothepoliticalcontextthat
sometimesrestrictstheorganizationofcommunitymeetingsorprojects.ItisalsoachallengeforlocalNGO’s
to findenoughstaffwithexperienceor specializedskills/knowledgewithinspecific fields (renewableenergy,
agroecology,watermanagementetc.),creatingabarrierfordevelopmentandup-scalingofprojects.
Keylessons
● Creatingreplicablestructuresandtoolsormethodologiesisoneofthemajorsuccessfactorsforall
projects,accordingtotheexperiencesthatweresharedduringtheworkshop.Replicablegovernancestructures
(suchaswomen’sgroupsorassociations,orcooperatives)allowforarapidextensionoftheprojecttoother
villagesandterritories,andappropriationbythebeneficiariesleadingtosuccessfulup-scaling.Agoodstep
towardsreplicabilityisthroughmonitoringofprogress.Sometimesorganisationsareinisolatedandremote
areaswithlimitedtelephonesignalandmobilitychallengeswhichhinderscapturingofdataandlearning.
32
Decentralizingthetaskofdatagatheringandempoweringcommunitymembers,suchasinthecaseexampleof
Bhungroobelow,wouldhelpovercomethechallengeofaccessingbeneficiarieswhilestrengtheninglocal
ownershipofprojects.
● Capacitybuildingforlocalteamscanbeorganizedwiththesupportofnationalorinternational
networksandinstitutions.Thissupportisusuallyeasiertoreceivethansupportintheformoffundingand
shouldbeexploredmore.
● Creatingnewgovernanceand/orentrepreneurshipstructureswithdemocraticrulesanddecision-
makingprocesses,todeveloplocalskillsandgeneratelocalactivitiescanhelpalleviateorganizational
challenges.
● Expandnetworktoaccessnewknowledge,skillsandopportunities:Forexample,ruralwomencan
linkupwithwomeninurbanareasforthepromotionandmarketingofagriculturalproductsintownswhich
theydonothavethecapacitytoundertakethemselves.
● Raisingawarenessthroughchildrenandyouth:InMorocco,theystartedraisingawarenesswith
schoolprojects.Theteenagegirlsbroughttheirmothersintoseestovestheyhadbuilt,whichalsoengaged
theirfathersinhearingabouttheworktheyweredoing.Itisimportanttoinvolvechildren,astheywillthen
growupwithamoresustainablemind-setandviewonwhattheyarecapableof.Theyarehoweveralsoableto
influencetheirfamilyathome.Anotherrecommendationfromtheawardwinnershasbeentoinvolveelder
membersofthecommunityincommunicationandoutreachactivities
more.
“Wenowhave32franchises,andaswehavegrown
biggerithasalsobecomemorenecessarytoraisethe
organisationalcapacityoftheteamintermsor
partnershipandfinancialmanagement.”TruptiJain,Naireeta
Services,Bhungroo,India
NaireetaServices,Bhungroo,India:Decentralizinggovernancebyempoweringfemalefarmers
Bhungroo is aprovenandcertified technology for capturingand storingexcessmonsoonwater from land
plots and reusing it for irrigation during drought season. With the support of the Indian government
thousands of units have been installedwith positive impacts on soil fertility and groundwater savings. By
increasingprofitabilityoftheruralareafarmingcommunities,thesolutionhasalsohadapositiveeffecton
rural-to-urban labour migration. The first step when installing a unit is assessing if the land is suitable
through satellite data and data collection, which can be made in 16 different ways. Naireeta Services is
33
workingon empoweringwomen to collect this data by dividing thework in sub-stepswhere female local
farmers do the knowledge work and sampling while the technical analysis is provided by professional
monitors.Theorganizationhasexperienced that there isa reluctance frommaleengineers towork in the
villages, while there is also a reluctance towards sharing knowledge with women. For this reason,
empowering local women to do their own geophysical data capturing is a means towards ensuring
continuousandthoroughdatacollection.
YakkumEmergencyUnit (YEU), Indonesia:utilizingwomen’s traditional knowledgeand structuring their
action
The Gemawang, Kaloran & Temmangung districts in Central Java are threatened by water scarcity and
landslides due to deforestation. YEU structured and facilitated five women’s groups to enable them to
actively contribute to improved water management in their communities, responding to the needs for
drinkable water and to the challenges of mountain agriculture. YEU replicated the same associative
structure, with threemembers (chair, secretary, and treasurer) ensuring effective governance within the
women’sgroups.TheyhighlightedtheirtraditionalknowledgeofwatermanagementthroughParticipatory
RuralAppraisaltoidentifythemainwaterproblems,i.e.,quality,distributionandmanagement.Thewomen
groups were then guided to develop an emergency preparedness program targeted at women for areas
prone to landslides. Somebeneficiadecided to implementaquaponic farming,building smallponds in the
villages, as well as small-size vegetable farming for the households. These technical tools can be easily
replicatedandprovidefoodsecuritywithawidernutritionalscope.
GenderDevelopmentAssociation(GDA),Laos:Seekingorganisationalsupportforclimatefinanceaccess
GDAhasalonghistoryofworkingwithLaowomen’sunionswhooperateatnational,regional,districtand
locallevels.Theyuseadecentralisedapproach,toengagewithcommunitiesandletthemtakeownershipof
ideas.Toolshavebeendevelopedbasedontheneedsofthecommunitiesenablingasuccessfulparticipatory
approach.AllGDAstaffareLaowomenrepresentingfourdifferentethnicgroupsandspeakingfourdifferent
dialects.GDAhasalsoconductedacompletegenderassessmentindifferentethniccommunities,evaluating
women’sworkloads and specific knowledge linked to themanagementofnon-timber forestproducts and
biodiversityconservation,aswellastheirroleinprovidingfoodforthecommunity.Thegenderassessment
hashelpedtoidentifyopportunitiesforformalgovernancestructuresbasedonwomen’sformalknowledge
in the region. Aswell to implement a “Train the Trainer” conceptwith specifically adapted training tools
fittedto theneedsof thetargetwomenbasedontheoutcomesof thegenderassessment.Their financial
constraints are related to getting core funding instead of tied (as they are dependent on organisational
fundingtoday).Theyarealsounabletocomplywithrequirementsoffinancialinstitutions,astheirbudgets
donotalignandtheyneedtechnicalassistancefortheirstafftomeettheexpectationsoffundersintermsof
providingevidence-basedresearch,usingcorrectbudgetlanguage,respondingtoauditsetc.
Tools
Women2030toolonorganisationalstructureandgendermainstreaming:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1grQA1vL9zFPorRM_UYpM9jOCiyDc25l-/view
34
6. Wayforward
Thisresourceguidecapturestheexperiences,bestpracticesexamples,andkeylessonssharedbythewinners
of theGender JustClimateSolutionsAwards (GJCSA).TheGJCSAhasbeenawardedby theUNFCCCWomen
and Gender Constituency (WGC) since COP21 in 2015 and supported by the Climate Technology Centre &
Network(CTCN)andotherpartners.Theyearlycapacitybuildingworkshopswiththeawardwinners,together
with this guide, lay the foundation for anambitious, structuredand sustainableup-scalingof theexemplary
gender-responsiveclimateinitiativesthathavebeenrecognized.
Bycarefullymappingthespecificanddifferentiatingneedsandbarriersfacedbytheawardwinnersandtheir
organisations, thecapacitybuildingworkshopshaveprovidedtailoredresponses to increase theirawareness
andaccesstodifferentclimatefinanceresourcesandsupportavailableforover-comingtechnicalbarriers.The
workshopshavealsoencouragedexperiencesharingonwaystoovercomeorganisational,culturalandsocial
normsandbarrierswhenworkinginthegenderandclimatenexus.
Capitalizingontheselessonslearnedandrecognizingthegreatneedformoreambitiousscalesofgender-just
climate action, theWomen Engage for a Common Future (WECF) aims to continueworkingwith the award
winners and identifyhow they can collaborate closelyon thematic, regional andhigh-potential initiatives to
deliver climatemitigation and adaptation solutions.With support from the CTCN and other partners, these
gender-just initiatives, ranging from water management technologies to participatory processes for forest
conservation,canbeup-scaledtomeetthegoalsoftheParisAgreement,andsupportimplementationofthe
UNFCCCGenderActionPlan.ThewayforwardwillalsoservetheadvocacystrategyoftheWomenandGender
Constituency,withthegoalofensuringthefullandeffectiveparticipationofwomeninclimatepoliciesatall
levelsofdecision-making.
Thementoringprogrammeforup-scalinggenderjustclimatesolutionswillbedefinedduringandinthefollow-
up of COP25 inMadrid,with activities planned to start in 2020. TheWECF and CTCN are currently seeking
collaborationpartnerswithasharedvisiontoprovideexpertise,networkingandfinancialopportunities.
35
The Climate Technology Centre and Network (CTCN) fosters technology transfer and deployment at the
request of developing countries through three core services: technical assistance, capacity building and
scaling up international collaboration. The Centre is the operational arm of the UNFCCC Technology
Mechanism,itishostedandmanagedbytheUnitedNationsEnvironmentandtheUnitedNationsIndustrial
DevelopmentOrganization(UNIDO),andsupportedbymorethan500networkpartnersaroundtheworld.
CTCNcontactdetails:
ClimateTechnologyCentreandNetwork Tel:+4545335372
UNCity,Marmorvej51 Web:www.ctc-n.org
DK-2100Copenhagen,Denmark Email: [email protected]
Supportedby: