The African Women's Network for Sustainable Development (REFADD) has recently developed a regional gender-based strategy for REDD + and climate change adaptation, with technical and financial support from the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN), and the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA). The strategy is a reference tool to help Congo Basin stakeholders mainstream gender into policies and programs to ensure active participation of women in the process.

 
The strategy seeks to strengthen the role of women and other populations at high risk of vulnerability in the development and implementation of national and sub-regional REDD + and adaptation policies and strategies. It thus provides an opportunity to give men and women equitable possibilities for participation, access to benefits and opportunities offered by policies, programs and projects implemented. It is divided into five main priority actions, including:

 
1. Capacity building related to gender, REDD + and climate change adaptation through awareness raising, training and support of actors;
2. Providing support and guidance for REDD + and adaptation initiatives involving grassroots women;
3. Sharing experiences and disseminating lessons on REDD + and adaptation-related best practices and innovations in COMIFAC countries;
4. Supporting gender mainstreaming in the policies and laws of COMIFAC and its member countries;
5. Information, communication and advocacy to promote a conducive environment for the integration of gender in policies and active participation of women in the REDD + and adaptation process;
6. Strengthening multi-stakeholder partnerships with special emphasis on collaboration and synergies between NGO networks involved.
 

Implementation of this strategy requires strong engagement of actors at the international, sub-regional and local levels.
 

For more information on the strategy, please consult the document below: