Launching of Initiative to Empower Women in Dealing with Climate Change and Addressing Disasters

Haffiya Abdalla 

Women are 14 times more likely to die from a climate disaster than men. That finding, by UN Women, reflects growing acknowledgment that the adverse effects of natural disasters affect marginalized groups, including women and children, more disproportionally.

It is easy to see why: women are poorer because they earn less, have less-secure jobs, and are more dependent on the natural resources that climate change threatens the most, according to a report by Care, an international charity. 

Despite being face-to-face with the problem, women are often not part of the solution. The UN’s Gender Action Plan notes that sustainable development can only be achieved if women are involved in developing and implementing all aspects of climate change mitigation and adaptation. 

This requires making women’s economic empowerment a central pillar in climate policy and action.

 Within the framework of a series of joint activities between the Higher Council for Environment and Natural Resources and the Ministry of Social Development, within the framework and implementation of the activities of the 41st session of the Arab Women Committee, the Undersecretary of the Ministry of Social Development, Gamal El-Nile Abdullah, inaugurated the initiative to empower women in dealing with climate change and addressing disasters.

Gamal El-Nile praised the partnership with the Higher Council for the Environment and the great work carried out by the General Administration for Women within the framework of the 41st session, noting that the initiative is considered a roadmap for programs related to gender and climate change from

Souad Dishol Mahmoud, director of the General Department for Women at the Ministry of Social Welfare, stressed the partnership with various parties, and that Sudan is striving to implement its regional and international commitments.

Dr. Rehab Abdel Meguid, on behalf of the Secretary-General of the Higher Council for the Environment, confirmed the importance of this initiative, and they will adopt it because climate change poses a threat to a large number of the population, especially women.

The initiative aims to achieve and promote women’s rights and gender equality in the context of climate change, environmental adaptation, and disaster response…

The participants deliberated about the goals of the initiative, its references, its sub-objectives, and themes, in addition to the implementation partners.

He mentions that there is active participation of community organizations and experts from universities, official bodies, and the media

The initiative was presented by Maha Mohamed Hussein, Director of the Economic Empowerment Department in the General Administration of the Environment.