UK (Commonwealth Union)_ The regional and national advisers of the Commonwealth Climate Finance Access Hub engaged in a Gender Based Analysis Plus (GBA+) masterclass designed to equip them with the skills to integrate gender considerations into their climate-related work. The training took place at the Commonwealth Pavilion during the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28) in Dubai.
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Led by Global Affairs Canada, the Gender Based Analysis Plus (GBA+) methodology provides an innovative approach to gender mainstreaming, supporting the development of responsive and inclusive policies, projects, and programs. The masterclass, moderated by Unnikrishnan Nair, the Secretariat’s Head of Climate Change, was delivered by Abiola Sunmonu, the Secretariat’s Adviser and Head of Africa, Governance, and Peace Directorate, who is also a Certified GBA+ Train the Trainer.
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Highlighting the significance of the training, Dr. Ruth Kattumuri, Senior Director of the Economic, Youth, and Sustainable Development Directorate at the Commonwealth Secretariat, stated, “The Commonwealth has a long history and strong foundation of commitments, conventions, and treaties, articulated in the 2013 Charter of the Commonwealth, which recognizes that gender equality and women’s empowerment are basic rights and essential for human development”. She added, “The GBA+ Masterclass helps us towards this goal of striving for gender equality across all our Commonwealth member nations.”
Garth Ehrhardt, Director of Climate Finance and Partnerships at the Canadian Department of Environment and Climate Change, emphasized that gender-responsive climate finance gives importance to empowering women and girls as climate action leaders, enhancing their resilience by addressing their disproportionate vulnerability to climate change impacts. The GBA+ methodology employs analytical tools to help participants assess the potential impacts, both intended and unintended, of initiatives and projects on diverse groups, considering gender and other aspects of their identities. Additionally, the Commonwealth staff expressed consensus that the training would have a meaningful and long-lasting impact.
Uzoamaka Nwamarah, Adviser Climate Change and lead on gender integration into the Commonwealth Climate Change Programme, noted, “When gender equality is integrated into climate finance, more effective and sustainable climate action that benefits everyone is enhanced, as the integration of gender considerations into project design and implementation improves the achievement of project outcomes.”
Dr. Oduetse Koboto, Manager of the Commonwealth Climate Finance Access Hub, highlighted this training as a response to the recent call from the Commonwealth Women Affairs Ministers Meeting to design dedicated and gender-focused climate solutions. The standardized approach provided to Commonwealth National and Regional Climate Finance Advisers on gender mainstreaming is expected to enhance the support given to member countries. Situated in Mauritius, the Commonwealth Climate Finance Access Hub has facilitated access to over US$322 million in climate finance for 17 small and vulnerable states in Africa, the Caribbean, and the Pacific, aiding projects to mitigate and adapt to the impacts of climate change.
