On 28 Nov, Dibya Gurung, WOCAN Nepal Coordinator, presented the poster on the Scoping Study on Gender, NRM and Climate Change in the Context of Inclusive and Equitable Sustainable Mountain Development in Nepal, at the Partner Interaction Program during the International Center for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) Board of Governors meeting in Kathmandu, Nepal. WOCAN conducted the scoping study in Nepal to identify, review and analyze key issues, actors, institutions, ongoing initiatives, needs and existing gaps (research, capacity, policy, networks) in the area of gender, natural resource management (NRM) and climate change in the context of equitable and inclusive sustainable mountain development.
The specific objectives of the study were:
1) To carry out a participatory needs assessment and gender mapping on key/emerging issues, needs, gaps, priorities, etc. on climate change and NRM issues from gender perspective in the country in context of rapid and multiple drivers of change;
2) To develop a roster of gender experts and women professionals and scientists (individuals/organizations) with expertise and/or working in Nepal on issues of climate change, natural resource management or governance in the context of sustainable mountain development; and
3) To evaluate the capacity of the current strategic and operational partners/institutions to integrate gender in their on-going work and suggest key capacity development needs to do gender focused as well as gender integration work that can be further developed through HICAP in the next 2-3 years. Identifying potential future strategic and operational partners/institutions at national/regional level (basin/sub-basin and cultural groups) to collaborate with ICIMOD on its work on gender, climate change and natural resource management.
The scoping study focused on analysis of the impact of climate change on women’s material conditions and its implications on their position and empowerment in terms of social, economic and political perspectives and processes.
The key findings of the study due to the possible impacts of climate change such as drying of ponds and springs, erratic rainfalls, extended dry spells and droughts, amongst others, has been the increase in rural women’s workload. The increase in women’s workload is rendering multiple effects on women’s health, income, safety, nutrition, violence against women, and ultimately in women’s social, economic and political empowerment.
The report also discusses key emerging issues and explains various recommendations. Please download the draft report for reference.