"Agri-food-systems facing climate change in the MENA region: gender equality for better resilience"
7 March 2022 11:00 13:00 CET
As part of their collaboration, CIHEAM, FAO and UfM have decided to mark the celebration of IWD 2022 with a joint event, focused on the MENA region and on promising solutions to support women’s empowerment and climate adaptation through synergies. They will bring into the debate their research, governance, and policy perspectives and experiences. The theme of the International Women’s Day (IWD) 2022 – Changing Climates: Equality today for a sustainable tomorrow – recognizes and celebrates the contribution of women and girls to building a sustainable future.
CIHEAM, FAO, and UfM share a commitment to promoting gender equality and women’s empowerment in agri-food systems, and to creating a conducive environment for women and girls to lead and thrive. Their common commitment is also reflected in a Memorandum of Understanding, signed in 2020, which led to the establishment of a multi-stakeholder initiative on Sustainable Food Systems in the Mediterranean (SFS-MED), as well as the contribution to the Regional Consultations led by the Committee on World Food Security in October 2021 to discuss the Zero Draft of the Voluntary Guidelines (VGs) on Gender Equality and Women’s and Girls’ Empowerment (GEWE) in the Context of Food Security and Nutrition.
Being the most impacted, women are also a critical part of the solution. Women and girls play a key role in climate change adaptation and mitigation as well as disaster risk reduction in many communities, for instance, through the management of early warning systems. Many female farmers and fisherwomen have gained vital knowledge of what works when facing climate change, which they are effectively applying to their production techniques. They also often know what is required to improve their specific situations and increase their resilience. Too frequently, however, they are not consulted or included in decision-making processes.
The event aims to raise awareness on the gender-differentiated impacts of climate change on agri-food systems, and on the interventions that are needed to address them, build women and girls’ resilience, and unleash their potential to mitigate climate change and adapt to its impacts.
More specifically, the event will offer the opportunity:
- to identify the key challenges to be addressed when it comes to women as key change drivers for a more resilient agri-food system facing climate change
- to propose possible solutions in terms of policies, strategies, and governance at the regional and country-level
- to share good practices and experiences from the private sector and CSOs
Tentative Agenda
7 March 2022 11:00- 13:00 CET
11:00 – 11:15 : Opening remarks
Representatives from CIHEAM and FAO RNE will briefly introduce their commitment to support gender-responsive climate actions, women’s access to green jobs and climate-smart solutions on gender equality and rural women’s empowerment
- Mr Abdulhakim ELWAER, Assistant Director-General and Regional Representative, FAO Regional Office for the Near East and North Africa
- Elen LEMAÎTRE-CURRI, Deputy Director of the CIHEAM Montpellier Institute
Introduction: Ms Anna DORANGRICCHIA, Project Manager Social and Civil Affairs Division, Union for the Mediterranean
11:15 – 12: 30: Round table
Experts on the subject from different sectors will share the latest data available on the gender-climate change nexus in the agri-food sector, challenges and solutions at the country and regional level and good practices and solutions from the CSOs.
- Ana IGLESIAS, Climate Change international expert, Professor of Environmental Economics and Policy at Universidad Politecnica de Madrid
- Dina NAJJAR, Gender Scientist, ICARDA
- Wafaa EL DIKAH HAMZE, CIHEAM Governing Board, Senior Agriculture Advisor, Ministry of Agriculture of Lebanon
- Ms Saira AHMED, Regional Programme Officer, UNDRR Regional Office for the Arab States
- Ms Amel M. AZAB, SDG Climate Facility Project Coordinator, Arab Water Council (AWC) tbc
Moderator: Ms Yasmine SEGHIRATE EL GUERRAB, Administrator at the CIHEAM General Secretariat, Gender Equality, Women and Youth Empowerment Focal Point
12:30 – 13.00: Q&A and Closing remarks
Moderator: Valentina FRANCHI, Gender Specialist, FAO Regional Office for the Near East and North Africa
Closing remarks: Ambassador John Paul GRECH, Deputy Secretary-General of Social and Civil Affairs Division, Union for the Mediterranean
Simultaneous translations in Arabic, English, and French will be provided throughout the meeting.