People of all genders have skills and knowledge that can help address climate change more effectively. However, due to existing gender inequalities and the disproportional climate vulnerability of women and girls, women’s empowerment plays a central role in achieving Sustainable Development Goals and combatting climate change.

This can be done through ensuring women’s and girls’ roles in the process as active agents of change while promoting equal and equitable opportunities for participation and decision-making. Similarly, providing women and girls with economic opportunities in terms of job creation and access, control and ownership of resources and assets is key to building resilient, sustainable and inclusive societies.

Moreover, gendered impacts of climate change must be assessed in a broader perspective that includes structural causes for disadvantage, as well as multiple intersecting factors. For the most vulnerable individuals, such as women and girls with disabilities, climate change exacerbates the pre-existing barriers. In some countries, for example, to access water and other essential supplies you might have to walk a long way.

These aspects have an impact on how climate change-related activities should be designed and implemented to ensure their effectiveness and sustainability. Our Gender Equality Policy is based on the Nordic priorities and operationalised throughout our operations and activities. The NDF Results Management Framework provides a strong mandate and tool to plan early in the project design how gender inequality gaps can be addressed. It also supports the dialogue and can even increase the level of ambition of partner agencies who may not have gender focus and action mainstreamed across their operations.