CATALYZING GENDER-TRANSFORMATIVE CHANGE
Women are essential for a successful transition toward low-carbon and climate-resilient development. They are agents of change and decision-makers: without their knowledge and leadership, it would not be possible to reach the net-zero target by 2050. However, social, economic, and cultural norms limit women’s participation and engagement in mitigation and adaptation activities. Gender disparities, such as unequal access to land, credit, technical training, and technology, make women and girls more vulnerable to climate change.
The Climate Investment Funds’ (CIF) investments promote gender equality across climate finance projects. They have already impacted the lives of women and girls by enabling them to play more active roles in accessing markets, land, natural resources, and services. Specifically, CIF’s projects have enhanced women’s lives across the globe by generating employment for them in the renewable energy sector; giving them access to credit to make their businesses and households more energy efficient; increasing their participation in capacity building for developing climate-smart agriculture; improving land tenure for them; and providing them with access to energy, transportation, and water. Some projects have also contributed to transforming informal gender norms, functions, and attributes in pilot countries at the community level. Ultimately, achieving true gender equality requires systemic changes to overcome barriers to women’s full participation in institutional processes in both the public and private sectors.
