Mainstreaming Gender Equality in Climate Change
Date:
UN Women and the Bangladesh Climate Change Trust (BCCT) initiated a series of training workshops on Mainstreaming Gender Equality in Climate Change for government officials from 26 ministries/departments/agencies. The training programme acknowledges the need for and importance of gender responsive climate-smart development. The comprehensive programme began with an inaugural ceremony in Dhaka on 3 March 2015, with Secretary in Charge, Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF), Mr. Kamal Uddin Ahmed as chief guest. Md. Abdul Quddus, Managing Director of BCCT (a statutory body formed under the Climate Change Trust Act of 2010 to administer the Climate Change Trust Fund) chaired the occasion, with Ms. Christine Hunter, UN Women Country Representative as a guest of honour. Eminent climate change specialists, gender experts, and representatives from ministries, development partners, United Nations Agencies, International non-governmental organization (INGOs) and research institutions attended the opening ceremony.
Mr. Kamal Uddin Ahmed highlighted the importance and timeliness of the training in aiming to meet the growing demand for gender equality in the development arena. The training will build knowledge in the gender dimensions of climate change, and provide tools for government officials – especially gender/planning/climate change focal points within ministries/departments – to apply in developing and influencing policies and programmes, in relation to the rights of all citizens, men and women. The Chairperson thanked UN Women for co-hosting the programme and expressed BCCT’s keenness to collaborate further.
The first (of six) Two-day Training Workshops was held during 3 to 4 March following the inauguration, with a second workshop on 23 to 24 March. Overall, 57 government officials from 24 ministries/departments participated in the interactive sessions, and expressed their appreciation and usefulness of the training. With improved knowledge of and capacity in gender mainstreaming from the perspective of rights in climate change efforts, participants committed themselves to contributing towards gender equality within their sphere of influence.
The remaining four training sessions – for around 120 government officials – will be completed by mid-May 2015.
Deputy Secretary (DMProg1), Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief (MoDMR)