Source(s): International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (UN/ISDR), Women's
Environment and Development Organization
[Please note: The information below has been adapted directly from the
sources.]
Current research is showing how complex interaction of social, economic,
cultural and environmental factors can make women more vulnerable when
coping with disaster, and that gender inequalities will be exacerbated by
the effects of climate change. Many studies have also reviewed that poor
women are more vulnerable to disasters due to socially constructed gender
roles and behaviours. Legislation and national plans for adaptation for
reducing risk still need to better integrate gender issues, in order to be
effective.
This situation calls for solutions to gendered vulnerabilities and a lack
of gender perspectives in policy. The UN/ISDR secretariat in collaboration
with IUCN and WEDO is collecting good practices and lessons learned that
link DRR as a key tool for reducing the impact of climate change, with a
gender perspective. UN/ISDR, IUCN and WEDO are seeking examples of projects
and initiatives across humanitarian, environmental and development sectors
that: promote positive changes to how women and men's capabilities are used
to build community resilience to climate change; and that integrate a gender
perspective in natural resource management, environmental protection and
climate change adaptation policies. The resulting publication will
potentially prove valuable for addressing gender gaps in Disaster Risk
Reduction. You encourage to share your initiatives at community,
organization and country levels.
All contributions should be sent to: Ana Thorlund thorlund@un.org by 15
March 2008.
What is a good practice? A good practice should show innovative qualities
and results, as well the potential for replication. It could illustrate one
or several initiatives, such as:
- Promoting DRR and climate change adaptation measures with a gender
perspective;
- Integrating a gender perspective into legislation, policies or national
plans in DRR or CC adaptation;
- Increasing capacity building on the importance and necessity for linking
DRR and CC adaptation with gender perspective;
- DRR and CC adaptation programmes that address gender perspectives,
specially women concerns and needs;
- Programmes that increase women participation and contribution to DRR;
- Practical measures that make women and men better prepared to respond for
events that will occur due to climate change;
ISDR Guidelines for providing relevant information are as follows:
- Contributors will have to fill in the template (please see website
below), by providing an answer to each of the questions listed.
- Maximum overall length: 2,000 - 2,500 words.
- Contributors will only have to 'bullet in' their pieces of information,
as the final material emerging from the information gathered will be edited
by a professional editor.
- Contributions could also include colour photos in jpeg format, high
resolution (300 dpi) to illustrate your practices(s), with the place where
the photo was taken, the photographer's name, year and a caption that
explains the image (max three lines);
Criteria for Selection:
- The Project/Initiative should be relevant to the issue
- Information is provided according to the template, with special attention
given to results and potential for replication
- Geographical balance considerations
- Logo and pictures received
Contributions that fulfil the criteria of selection will be reviewed by a
UN/ISDR gender officer and submitted to a voluntary board of gender
professionals of the ISDR System working in the field of Environment,
Climate Change, Development, and Disaster Risk Reduction. The final
decision is made by the board of experts, and feedback will be sent to
contributors by 15 March 2008.
For further information (including template), please visit
