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Summary
This brief reports on the delivery of a training package for capacity development on gender integration and enhancing women’s participation in energy, environment and climate initiatives in refugee settings in Uganda. The content of capacity development material was informed by studies in gender analysis and capacity needs assessments conducted by ICRAF and partners in the Reducing Environmental Degradation in the Refugee Context (RED) project, implemented in five refugee hosting districts: Adjumani, Kiryandongo, MadiOkollo, Terego and Yumbe. During the research phase, key informant interviews and focus group discussions were conducted. These targeted engagement and consultations with district and sub-county level government technicians, political leaders and other stakeholders, including representatives from the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM), the private sector, nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), community-based organizations (CBOs), refugee welfare councils (RWCs), and vulnerable groups (including people living with disabilities (PWD), young people and the elderly).
Key challenges limiting gender integration in energy, environment and climate resilience activities include limited knowledge about gender mainstreaming and a low number of women in leadership roles in environmental and natural resource management (E&NRM). Men and women have important but differing roles in the use and management of natural resources; however, women’s participation in both decision making and implementation is undervalued.
The higher social status and political power that men enjoy blocks female participation in decision making forums; while division of roles and tasks by gender means both groups remain relatively uninformed about each other’s needs and preferences. This is particularly problematic given that refugees are disproportionately female. Environmental degradation is a key challenge facing refugee hosting districts, where rapid growth in population increases the pressure on natural resources, especially in the supply of food, water, construction materials and energy, resulting into land degradation and increased vulnerability to climate change.
This brief presents the process of capacity development for government, refugee and host community leaders and other stakeholders in effective gender integration and increased women’s participation in E&NRM and the associated governance structures. Gender mainstreaming in E&NRM not only fosters men’s and women’s ability to cope with environmental challenges but also highlights the underlying structural inequalities that require consideration to address the disproportionate impacts of the climate crisis on vulnerable groups as well as the environment. This brief’s recommendations are directed at the district and local government authorities responsible for addressing environmental degradation, inadequate access to sustainable cooking energy, and the many climate-change related challenges.