By A two-day workshop aimed at boosting the capacity of selected Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) and District Assemblies to incorporate gender-responsive approaches in climate change adaptation has concluded.
Conducted by Women in Law and Development in Africa (WiLDAF) Ghana in partnership with Cowater and the Volta Regional Coordinating Council (VRCC), the workshop was convened as part of the Strengthening Investments in Gender-Responsive Climate Change Adaptation (SIGRA) project, funded by Global Affairs Canada over five years.
The workshop convened representatives from diverse CSOs and two district assemblies within the Volta Region.
Its primary goal was to enhance awareness and comprehension of the intersection between gender and climate change adaptation.
It also sought to provide participants with insights into the planning and budgeting processes of Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies (MMDAs), underscoring the importance of integrating gender-responsive and climate change adaptation strategies into their plans and budgets.
Melody Darkey, the National Programme Coordinator for WiLDAF Ghana, emphasized the workshop’s importance within the broader activities of the SIGRA project.
“The idea is to acquaint NGOs, CSOs, and Women’s Rights Organizations from the selected districts with the concept of gender and its interaction with climate change adaptation,”
she explained.
“We aim to address the inequities that arise from the nexus between gender and climate change issues.”
Darkey also highlighted the utilization of a checklist adapted from the National Development Planning Commission.
This tool will aid in assessing the current plans of district assemblies for the 2022-2025 planning cycle, enabling the determination of their responsiveness to climate change adaptation and gender issues.
“We hope to work with the MMDAs to identify gaps in these plans and provide technical support for engagements,” she added.
Madame Elhan Mumuni, Advisor on Gender and CSOs with Cowater Ghana, emphasized the ultimate goal of the SIGRA project: “To strengthen the resilience of Ghanaian citizens, particularly women, girls, and vulnerable groups, through increased investment in inclusive and gender-responsive climate adaptation initiatives.”
Madame Thywill Eyra Kpe, the Volta Regional Director of the Department of Gender, expressed her enthusiasm for the project and emphasized the significance of the Volta Region’s involvement in the SIGRA project.
She pledged to ensure that officers implementing the program collect gender-disaggregated data, ensuring that the project reaches its intended population.
The workshop signifies a stride towards cultivating a more inclusive approach to climate change adaptation planning and budgeting in the Volta Region. This underscores an increasing acknowledgment of the vital interconnection between gender and climate resilience.
