ADDRESSING GENDER IN DEVELOPING AND

IMPLEMENTING OF NAPs

TUVALU EXPERIENCES

OUTLINE OF THE PRESENTATION• COUNTRY PROFILE of TUVALU

• GENDER AND CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATION in TUVALU

• COUNTRY EXPERIENCES

• CHALLENGES

• LESSON LEARNED

WAY FORWARD

COUNTRY PROFILE: TUVALU

• Tuvalu is an independent constitutional and religious Island Nation

• Location: Southwest Pacific Ocean, Northern side of the Fiji Islands

• Population/Geography: 11,200 people(2012 census) – 9 Coral Atoll and Islands, less than 3 meters (average height above sea level)

• Economy: Fisheries Industries, Agriculture(decrease due to CC) and Foreign Aid

Gender and Climate Change Adaptation in Tuvalu• Women are considered to be one of the most

vulnerable group in Tuvalu to the current and future effects of Climate Change, Climate Variabilities and Natural Disaster

• Vulnerabilities defines in-

o Participation and decision making: lack of involvement in political and social areas, and decision making processes

o Economic inequality: insufficiency of access and ownership to land, livelihood resources and money

o Social status: discrimination , lower social status, family responsibilities and reproductive roles

o Gender based violence: nearly half of women have physical/sexual/emotional and etc violence in their lifetime

o General challenges in Tuvalu: Limited capacity/ ability to cope, isolation from main Islands, traditional and gender roles, poor governance and limited employment

Source: TC Pam Gender Assessment 2015

Continue…..

• Why Tuvalu needs to strengthen Gender consideration in any Climate Change Adaptation Plans, Development and Implementations?

oTo increase avenues for women to express their ideas and concerns

oTo enable women to be engaged in decision making at all levels

oTo recognise the important role women play in adaptation, especially in food production, water and energy security

oTo directly address and reduce inequalities that exist between men, women, boys and girls

oTo ensure climate change adaptation processes bring about positive societal change , including gender equality and social inclusion.

Tuvalu Experience: Existed ways for Strengthening Gender Responsiveness in Adaptation Planning(s)

Policy Framework• Gender Policy 2013

• Family Protection & Domestic Violence Act

• CEDAW

• Tuvalu Climate Change Policy 2012

• National Strategy Action Plan for Climate Change and Disaster Risk(NSAP) 2012

• Te-Kakega III –National Strategy for Sustainable Development 2016

• NAPA 1 & 2

• Tuvalu Survival Act 2015

• Island’s Strategy Plans

• Government mechanisms: NACCC(National Advisory Council on Climate Change)

Implementation• PACCC• NZAID• GCCA• NAPA 1&2• GCF• PIFs,SPC,SPREP,

UNDP• GIZ• TNCW(Tuvalu

National Council of Women)

• Department of Gender Affairs

• 8 Island Councils……

ACTIONS COMMUNTIES AWARENESS CAPACITY BUILDINGS CONSULTATION WITH WOMEN GROUPS TRAININGS PRESENTATIONS PARTICIPATION OF WOMEN IN PROJECT/ACTIVITIES RADIO PROGRAMS

Source: NAPA-1 Gender Assessment

CHALLENGESCHALLENGES

Limited participations of women in Project Development, Planning and Implementations

Fewer women participate in decision-making at the high level(parliament and Local government /Island community -Kaupule)

Limited support from the Government, Island Communities, Religion organizations and Families

Wide recognitions of gender in Tuvalu but nothing beyond the rhetoric

Limited collection and analysis of gender disaggregated data Household and family duties are carried out by women without

support of the men which do not allow for much time to engage and participate in projects / activities

UNERLYING CAUSES

• Cultural and Traditional norms• Gender norm• Women present but do not participate actively• Although there is a coherent approach the problem is on

uncoordinated actions and lack of communication between stakeholders

LESSON LEARNED

Empowering women first

Changes can not happen overnight it will take time for the society or Island communities to accept changes

Sensitive approach with communities to explain the concept of gender equity and how it affect culture and tradition

Stronger understanding of gender as a cross-cutting issue in the field of Climate Change

Lack of coordinating of actions between Tuvalu National Women Council(TNCW) and Department of Gender Affair(GAD)

TNCW(Tuvalu National Council of Women) role as women’s advocate is very limited but more linked to economic empowerment of women.

WAY FORWARD ..

• To strengthen the principles of gender equality in law and practices in order to eliminate discrimination of women

• To ensure women have opportunities to participate and make decisions in all Climate Change related processes at all levels

• Re-visit existed climate change related policies to ensure they recognise gender issues and support the advancement of gender equality outcomes

• To strengthen domestication of CEDAW

• Undertake gender and social analysis of all projects from project design phase through to implementation and evaluation phase

• Collect gender and age disaggregated data to inform policy development and project implementation.

THANK YOU !