Pacific Gender and Climate Change Toolkit

"[A]mong the many adaptation and mitigation initiatives under way in the Pacific region, few integrate gender dimensions across the design and implementation, but overlooking gender can greatly weaken the outcomes of these initiatives. Developing strategies to deal with the range of challenges climate change presents will require all available resources and knowledge."

Grounded in the belief that gender equality is central to achieving a sustainable and resilient future in the Pacific islands region, this toolkit is designed to support climate change practitioners working in national governments, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), and regional and international organisations in their efforts to integrate gender into all aspects of policy, programming, and project work. United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women) explains that "[m]en are often expected to be breadwinners, and the main decision makers in their households and communities. These factors can result in the exclusion of women's views from key decisions. When this happens, communities miss out on the significant knowledge, skills and capacities of half their population. Gender inequality therefore weakens the resilience of many Pacific communities to climate change impacts." The toolkit provides advice at a practical level to address issues such as these.

The toolkit is divided into 3 parts, which can be read in conjunction or used as standalone documents for practitioners seeking guidance on a specific topic. The modules also include illustrative case studies and are supported by checklists and tools (found at the end of the toolkit). The introductory module explains why gender is a critical consideration in climate change programmes, projects, and strategies and clarifies some common misconceptions. Module 2 focuses on the links between gender and climate change in specific sectors (e.g., food security, water, and energy) and uses sector-relevant case studies to explain how to take gender into consideration. It also includes a module on disaster risk reduction recognising that these interventions should be factored into all climate change adaptation programmes and projects. Module 3 is the "how-to" section and will take the reader through the 7 phases of a typical climate change programme/project cycle, identifying potential entry-points for integrating gender in each phase. It also includes a generic gender checklist that may be applied to programmes and projects.

The principles and practices proposed in this toolkit are based on many decades of experience in the integration of a gender perspective in sustainable development, natural resources management, and disaster preparedness. It is designed to be a living document which will be revised and added to in the future. Its use will also be supported by training and technical assistance to further build capacity in the Pacific islands region to effectively integrate gender in climate change initiatives.