21 November: Nature and biodiversity, indigenous people, gender equality, ocean and coastal zones Day
9 am – 10 am: The impacts of climate change on women health and rights; (Organizer) Nabd Development and Evolution Organization with Bread for the World.
10.30 am – 11.30 am: Women confronting Loss and Damage in FCAS: the conflict-climate-gender nexus; (Organizer) ActionAid.
12 noon – 1 pm: WASH in Pakistan; (Organizer) ADAPT Initiative.
1.30 pm – 2.30 pm: A short film on Kakuma Refugee Camp, Kenya; (Organizer) Solar Cookers International.
3.00 pm – 4.00 pm: Enhancing Climate Resilience of Coastal areas of Bangladesh with Nature-Based Solutions; (Organizer) Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology.
4.30 pm – 5.30 pm: Implementation of Climate and DRR Gender Action Plan at National Level: Synergies and Strategies; (Organizer) ActionAid International.
Women Confronting Loss and Damage in Fragile and Conflict-Affected States: The Conflict-Climate-Gender Nexus
Organizer: ActionAid International
By Irakli Malania
This session at the Humanitarian Hub delved into the critical intersection of climate change, conflict, and gender in Fragile and Conflict-Affected States (FCAS). It brought attention to the disproportionate impacts of loss and damage on women and girls, highlighting the need for increased recognition of their leadership in climate action and better support mechanisms for their initiatives.
Tanjir Hossain, Global Resilience Advisor at ActionAid International, opened the session by setting the stage for the discussion. He emphasized the unique vulnerabilities of FCAS, which are among the least responsible for global emissions but disproportionately affected by extreme weather events.
Hossain pointed out the limited climate financing directed toward FCAS due to perceived risks, which often restricts humanitarian action to emergency relief rather than enabling long-term rebuilding and resilience. He further outlined the importance of the Fund for Responding to Loss and Damage, operationalized at COP28, while stressing the need for more substantial financial commitments to meet the growing challenges.
Hossain also presented new research from ActionAid International focusing on the climate-conflict-gender nexus. The findings highlighted how gender inequities amplify vulnerabilities in FCAS and the lack of sufficient support for women-led climate initiatives, despite their significant role in community resilience efforts. The research aims to fill gaps in understanding the interconnected dynamics of conflict, climate, and gender, offering a framework for more inclusive approaches.
Ninni Ikkala Nyman, Lead on Climate Change at the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies shared her reflections and experiences from IFRC’s work in FCAS. She highlighted ground realities, including the challenges women face in such contexts, and pointed out gaps in the global climate discourse that often overlook the lived experiences of those on the frontlines. Nyman urged decision-makers to prioritize localized solutions informed by the perspectives of affected communities.
Dr. Emad Adly, General Coordinator of the Arab Network for Environment and Development, discussed the linkages between COP29 deliberations and the conflict-climate-gender nexus. He emphasized the importance of integrating gender and conflict considerations into climate action and translating high-level commitments into tangible support for FCAS communities.
The session included an interactive Q&A and dialogue facilitated by Hossain, where participants engaged with the panelists on key issues. Topics discussed included the role of community-driven research, the importance of ensuring equitable access to climate finance, and actionable steps to integrate gender into broader climate and security frameworks.
The session concluded with final reflections from the panelists, who collectively emphasized the importance of centering women and their leadership in efforts to address loss and damage. They called for stronger global commitments, improved financial mechanisms, and greater collaboration to ensure that the needs and contributions of women in FCAS are fully recognized and supported.
The impacts of climate change on women health and rights
Organizer: Nabd Development and Evolution Organization (NDEO) with Bread for the World.
By Hafiz Kalandarov
The event, hosted by NDEO and Bread for the World, highlighted how climate change exacerbates health and rights issues for women and girls, especially in terms of access to healthcare, reproductive rights, and socioeconomic stability.
The panel discussion delved into the specific challenges faced by women and girls in the Middle East and Northern Africa region, a region particularly vulnerable to the effects of climate change. The event aimed to foster understanding, advocate for policy integration, and encourage sustainable solutions that prioritize the health and rights of women and girls.
Experts from various fields, including health, climate change, humanitarian aid, and gender equality, discussed the intersection of climate change and women's and girls' health. They highlighted the unique vulnerabilities of women and girls, particularly in marginalized communities, and the disproportionate impact of climate change on their reproductive health and rights.
A key focus of the discussion was a groundbreaking study conducted by NDEO and Bread for the World on sexual and reproductive health rights in Yemen. This study provided valuable insights into how climate change exacerbated the current fragile situation in Yemen and the increased challenges faced by women and girls because of climate change (increased infectious diseases (water- and air-borne), higher rates of miscarriages, and higher rates of premature births).
The results of the study were presented and highlighted climate change impacts like heat waves, droughts, heavy rains, and destructive floods which lead to the destruction of water and food resources, water and air pollution, and negatively impacted sexual and reproductive health, increase in miscarriages, premature births and weak mother and child immunity
The panel and audience discussed the need for a just transition to a low-carbon economy that prioritizes gender equality and women's empowerment. They discussed the need for climate finance that prioritizes gender needs especially when it comes to the new collective and quantified goal on climate finance which needs to be trillions to overcome the climate challenges in developing countries.
They also discussed the importance of integrating intersectionality and sexual and reproductive health into nationally determined contributions (NDCs), especially since the NDCs review will be next year 2025.
The event concluded with a call to action to address the challenges faced by women and girls due to climate change. Participants emphasized the importance of investing in climate-resilient health systems, empowering women and girls, and advocating for policies that protect their health and rights.
Implementation of Climate and DRR Gender Action Plan at National Level: Synergies and Strategies
Organizer: ActionAid International
By Irakli Malania
The event brought together experts, policymakers, and practitioners to explore the integration of gender-responsive approaches into disaster risk reduction (DRR) and climate action, with a focus on aligning the Sendai Gender Action Plan (GAP) and the Climate Change Gender Action Plan (CCGAP).
Moderated by Tanjir Hossain, Global Resilience Advisor at ActionAid International, the session began by highlighting the challenges of implementing gender-responsive strategies on the ground. Hossain noted that while the Sendai Framework and UNFCCC’s Enhanced Lima Work Programme on Gender have laid the groundwork for gender equity in DRR and climate policies, progress has been uneven. The Sendai Mid-Term Review revealed gaps in implementation, particularly at the national and community levels, underscoring the need for stronger synergies between existing frameworks to ensure efficient resource use and impactful outcomes.
The keynote address was delivered by Mwanahamisi (Mishy) Singano, Co-Coordinator of the Women and Gender Stakeholder Group and Director of Policy at Women’s Environment & Development Organization (WEDO). Singano emphasized the transformative potential of women’s leadership in DRR and climate resilience initiatives. She outlined how the nine objectives of the Sendai GAP provide a roadmap for embedding gender considerations into national policies, programs, and budgets. Singano called for greater alignment between the Sendai GAP and CCGAP to avoid duplication and maximize resources, while also addressing the specific needs of women and girls in vulnerable communities.
The session featured expert insights from leading practitioners. Farah Kabir, Country Director of ActionAid Bangladesh, shared powerful examples of grassroots DRR initiatives led by women in climate-affected regions. She highlighted the importance of institutionalizing gender equity in national strategies, with adequate budgetary support, to sustain these efforts.
Zainab Yunusa, Gender Equality Advocacy and Policy Specialist at UNFPA, discussed the intersectionality of gender and vulnerability, urging policymakers to adopt inclusive frameworks that address the needs of marginalized groups, including persons with disabilities and Indigenous women. She stressed that gender-responsive policies must be designed with an intersectional lens to be truly effective.
Animesh Kumar, Head of the UNDRR Office in Bonn, reflected on how the Sendai GAP can guide governments in operationalizing gender-focused DRR strategies. Kumar emphasized the importance of global frameworks in supporting national implementation, ensuring that gender considerations are not sidelined but integrated into broader resilience-building efforts.
The session concluded with Singano summarizing the key takeaways. She called for enhanced collaboration among stakeholders to align indicators and budgets for gender-responsive DRR and climate action. Singano urged participants to draw inspiration from grassroots examples, amplify the voices of women leaders, and invest in tools and resources to implement the objectives of the Sendai GAP.
In closing, Hossain emphasized the importance of partnerships between governments, civil society, and international organizations to advance gender equity in DRR and climate resilience. He reiterated that building resilient communities requires a collective effort to operationalize the commitments outlined in the Sendai and Lima Gender Action Plans, ensuring no one is left behind.
The session, organized in partnership with UNDRR Stakeholder Engagement Mechanism, Duryog Nivaran, WEDO, and ActionAid International, provided practical tools, lessons, and inspiration for implementing gender-responsive strategies in DRR and climate action. It underscored the critical role of women and diverse gender groups in leading and shaping resilience initiatives, offering a pathway toward more inclusive and effective disaster and climate responses.
Enhancing Climate Resilience of Coastal areas of Bangladesh with Nature-Based Solutions
Organizer: Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET).
By Hafiz Kalandarov
At COP29, an expert panel convened to discuss the role of Nature-based Solutions (NbS) in addressing the complex climate vulnerabilities of Bangladesh’s coastal regions. The session emphasized the efficacy of NbS in mitigating the impacts of rising sea levels, intensifying storms, and increasing salinity intrusion, while also highlighting the critical need for integrating these solutions into local and national adaptation frameworks.
BUET's Prof. AKM Saiful Islam remarked in his keynote presentation that the existing stormwater drainage systems are inadequate to handle the increased runoff from urban areas. Insufficient capacity and outdated design contribute to frequent waterlogging. There is ample opportunity to go for integrated NbS by improving the existing drainage system and ponds through various nature-friendly actions like excavation, incorporating socially friendly components, and introducing new safe drinking water technology. Both structural, and non-structural including NbS should be considered for riverbank protection depending on the hydro-morphological conditions of the riverbank. Emphasis was given to conservation of wetlands and natural water bodies, rainwater harvesting, and improving solid waste management including biogas treatment plants”
Dr. Munjurul Hannan Khan, Executive Director and Founder of Nature Conservation Management, observed, “The undervaluation of nature remains a significant barrier, with wetlands often treated as wastelands despite their critical ecological functions.”
Eminent water resource and climate change expert, Dr. Ainun Nishat highlighted, “Indigenous knowledge is a vital resource in climate adaptation, yet the increasing frequency of floods demonstrates a worrying decline in preparedness.”
Roufa Khanum, from BRAC University, underscored, “For NbS to succeed, it is imperative to strengthen community capacities and enhance their understanding of these approaches.”
Md. Shamsuddoha from Center for Participatory Research and Development emphasized, “Adaptation planning often neglects the broader ecological and social benefits of NbS, focusing narrowly on risk reduction.” Mr. Saqib Huq argued, “Policymakers must adopt a holistic perspective on NbS and prioritize the integration of traditional knowledge with community practices.”
Adv. Hafizul Islam Khan from Centre for Climate Justice-Bangladesh, advocated, “Community participation must be central to climate solutions, with improved access to adaptation funding and stronger technical coordination across governance levels.”
A short film on Kakuma Refugee Camp, Kenya
Organizer: Solar Cookers International
By Irakli Malania
Solar Cookers International (SCI) hosted an insightful session highlighting the transformative impact of solar cooking technology in Kakuma Refugee Camp, Kenya. The event brought to life the challenges faced by refugees in accessing cooking fuel and showcased how locally manufactured solar box ovens are helping to address these issues while delivering economic, environmental, and health benefits.
The session began with opening remarks from Keith Wingeard, Strategic Partnerships Manager at Solar Cookers International. Wingeard set the stage by describing the dire energy challenges confronting refugees in Kakuma, one of the largest refugee camps in the world. With rising fuel prices and deforestation making wood and charcoal increasingly inaccessible, the introduction of solar box ovens has provided a critical lifeline. He explained how these ovens are enabling families to save on cooking fuel costs, reduce their exposure to harmful smoke, and mitigate their environmental impact through decreased biomass consumption.
Dr. Alan Bigelow, Program and Science Director at SCI, followed with an in-depth presentation on the science and application of solar cooking technology. He outlined how solar box ovens work and emphasized their triple benefit: reducing greenhouse gas emissions, improving household health, and lowering cooking expenses by an average of $60 USD annually per household. Bigelow highlighted SCI’s collaboration with local partners in Kakuma, emphasizing the importance of building capacity within refugee communities to ensure the long-term success of these initiatives.
The centerpiece of the session was the screening of a two-minute short film filmed in Kakuma Refugee Camp in September 2023. The video provided a powerful glimpse into the lives of refugee women who have adopted solar cooking. Their stories highlighted the dual struggles of managing scarce resources and facing risks when gathering wood outside the camp, juxtaposed against the relief and empowerment brought by solar box ovens.
Rosemary Atieno, Founder of Community Mobilization for Positive Empowerment, offered reflections based on her experience working directly with refugees. She emphasized the critical role of local leadership in driving the success of such initiatives, noting how community involvement has not only improved project outcomes but also fostered a sense of ownership and resilience among the beneficiaries.
The session concluded with a lively question-and-answer session, during which audience members engaged with the panelists on topics such as scalability, cultural acceptance, and the integration of solar cooking into broader resilience strategies. The panelists stressed the importance of partnerships across sectors and regions to expand the reach of solar cooking technology and adapt it to the unique needs of other vulnerable populations.