Financing for Gender Equality and Social Inclusion Commitments and Way Forward for Nepal’s NDC Implementation

Date and time: 4 December 2023, 11:30 - 13:15, UAE 

Nepal is the 10th most affected country in the world in terms of climate change (Global Climate Risk Index, German Watch 2021) and this makes the economy especially vulnerable to external shocks. Significant changes in key climatic and environmental parameters are also being observed in Nepal, and the country is experiencing an increase in extreme climate events (ibid).

Climate change is not gender-neutral –it has a disproportionate impact on women in Nepal, due to the inequalities in rights, assets, resources and decision-making power that they already face, especially those from impoverished and marginalized caste and ethnic groups. At the same time, women are directly impacted because they are the primary users of agricultural land, forest, and water resources (UN Women, Nepal CGEP 2021).

Building a sustainable future for all entails harnessing the unique knowledge, skills and leadership of women and vulnerable groups in climate action. Leveraging co-benefits between gender equality and climate action therefore requires a paradigm shift that puts gender equality considerations and the voice and agency of women and girls at the center of climate management efforts and investments.

Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) are a critical tool for linking normative efforts to advance gender equality in climate action. Implementation and monitoring of gender and inclusion-focused and targeted initiatives/actions in NDCs and ensuring a shift from commitment to concrete outcomes for gender equality and climate is a key priority. The Nepal Pavilion and side events will explore opportunities for strengthening climate financing and positioning the Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI) commitments of the Government and identifying pathways to achieve them as part of Nepal’s second NDC. What efforts have been made to do this and what challenges they are facing. Therefore, this event will focus on stocktaking, how to strengthen financing for GESI and climate action and way forward for turning commitments into concrete actions that is resourced and measurable.

The event is led by the Government of Nepal with support from UN Women and UNDP. It will comprise of representatives from the Government of Nepal, civil society organizations, gender and climate thematic experts, UN agencies and donors.

Format: In-person panel discussion.

Speaker: Honorable Ms. Binita Kathayat, Member of Parliament, Federal Government of Nepal

Panelists:

Ms. Deepa Oli, Forest Officer, Gender Focal Point MoFE
Dr. Radha Wagle, Biodiversity and Climate Adaptation Expert, Nepal
Priyanka Teeluck, Programme Specialist, UN Women

Ms. Tashi Sherpa, Vice Chair, Khumbu Pasanglhamu Rural Municipality, Solukhumbu
Ms. Khlok Vichet Ratha, Deputy Director of Department of Climate Change, General Directorate of Policy and Strategy, Government of Cambodia
Ms. Sharu Joshi Shrestha, Gender Advisor, Sath Sathai
Mr. Mukti Ram Acharya, Under Secretary, IECCD/ Chief- Climate Finance Section, MOF
Ms. Srilata Kammila, Head of Climate Change Adaptation, Bureau for Policy and Programme Support, UNDP
Dr. Maheshwar Dhakal, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Forest and Environment, Government of Nepal
Ms. Kerstin Stendahl, Special Envoy for Climate Change, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Finland
Ms. Sarah E. Hendriks, Deputy Executive Director a.i., UN Women