Peer Learning Summit: Gender-responsive National Adaptation Plan (NAP) Processes

En français.

Experts and government representatives from 10 countries in sub-Saharan Africa (Botswana, Central African Republic, Chad, Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana, Senegal, and Zambia) and the Caribbean (Belize, Jamaica, and Haiti) gathered in Montego Bay, Jamaica, to share lessons and experiences on promoting gender equality through climate change adaptation.

Co-hosted by the NAP Global Network and the Government of Jamaica, with funding from Global Affairs Canada, this Peer Learning Summit aims to strengthen the National Adaptation Plan (NAP) processes in these countries by sharing knowledge on gender-responsive approaches. Going beyond a sensitivity to gender differences, a gender-responsive NAP process seeks to actively promote gender equality throughout adaptation planning, implementation, and efforts to track progress.

The summit convened national climate change decision-makers and gender experts to work together to:

“A gender lens is an incredibly important part of planning for climate change adaptation to build resilience. Jamaica has been actively working to bring gender considerations into development and climate policy for many years, and we are delighted to host this international summit to share our experiences and learn from our peers.”

UnaMay Gordon, Principal Director of the Climate Change Division, Government of Jamaica.

“Our recent synthesis report on gender-responsive NAP processes demonstrates that countries in the Global South are making progress in applying gender-responsive approaches to their national adaptation planning and actions. These countries demonstrating an ambition for gender-responsive climate action will especially benefit from the exchange of knowledge at next week’s Peer Learning Summit.”

Angie Dazé, Lead on Gender Equality, NAP Global Network Secretariat.

On Day 1 of the Peer Learning Summit, opening remarks were provided by the co-hosts, the Government of Jamaica and the NAP Global Network, as well as UN Women and Global Affairs Canada. The event began with the framing of key concepts for gender-responsive National Adaptation Plan (NAP) processes. Participants then shared the status of their country's NAP process and efforts to integrate gender considerations, and finally reflected on the key challenges related to gender-responsive approaches in adaptation planning and action. 

Slides | Introduction to the NAP Global Network and Peer Learning Summit

By Angie Dazé, IISD/NAP Global Network

Slides | Introduction to Gender-responsive ​NAP Processes

By Angie Dazé, IISD/NAP Global Network

Slides | Gender Concepts and the Caribbean

By Tonni Brodber,​ UN Women​

Slides | Gender Equality and Climate Change Adaptation: Why consider gender in adaptation?
​

Par Ayesha Constable​, GirlsCARE - Climate Action for Resilience and Empowerment

Participants started Day 2 by working together to find solutions that could help overcome the challenges identified the day before, focusing on social and cultural norms, capacity gaps, and availability of disaggregated data and analysis, among others. They then learned about the role of knowledge, attitudes, behaviors, and practices in gender-responsive resilience building. Country teams then worked to identify entry points in their NAP processes for integrating gender-responsive approaches. 

Slides | Gender-Responsive Resilience Building in the Caribbean: Understanding the role of knowledge, attitudes, behaviours, and practices in coordination mechanism for climate change and disaster risk reduction

Slides | Climate Change in Jamaica: Impact and Response

By: Le-Anne Roper, Climate Change Division, Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation, Jamaica.​

On the last day of this Peer Learning Summit, participants explored why women's leadership matters for effective adaptation planning and action, before discussing how intersectionality can influence adaptation decision making. Country teams continued to reflect on their own NAP processes, identifying concrete next steps to apply a gender-responsive approach, and sharing these with their peers from other countries. Participants also learned about practical tools, including gender analyses and gender-responsive stakeholder engagement.

Slides | Women's Leadership & Climate Activism in the Caribbean

By Ayesha Constable, GirlsCARE

• Toolkit for a Gender-Responsive Process to Formulate and Implement National Adaptation Plans (NAPs)
• Gender-Responsive National Adaptation Plan (NAP) Processes: Progress and promising examples
• News and Infographic | Gender-Responsive Climate Action: Progress in National Adaptation Planning
• Theme Page | Gender in National Adaptation Plan Processes