PLACING WOMEN AT THE CENTRE OF A COORDINATED AFRICAN CLIMATE CHANGE AGENDA: A FOCUS ON THE REPUBLIC OF THE SUDAN AND THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO

Abstract

Climate change disproportionately impacts women and girls. Their vulnerability to the effects of climate change is particularly evident in volatile regions like the Republic of Sudan and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Like times of conflict where societal norms crumble leaving women and girls vulnerable; climate change exacerbates existing inequalities, with women bearing the brunt of its consequences, especially in sub-Saharan Africa. Women, who are frequently responsible for agricultural activities and household care work, face a myriad of climate change related challenges including food and nutritional insecurity, increased malaria transmission, malnutrition, displacement, reduced agricultural productivity, lack of access to clean water and lack of access to clean cooking technologies. This article delves into the contexts of Sudan and the DRC to highlight the critical need for a coordinated African climate change agenda. It highlights the need for genderfocused approaches that advance the capacities of women and leverage their
conventional societal roles in analysing the relationship between women and nature, particularly rural women. This article thus proposes placing women and girls at the centre of the continent's climate change agenda as a catalyst to realise its collective goals. It concludes by analysing the gender-focused climate approaches contained in the ‘Africa Leaders Nairobi Declaration on Climate Change and Call to Action’ (Nairobi Declaration). The Nairobi Declaration provides a guiding beacon for mainstreaming gender-specific climate policies and actions. Such approaches entail integrating gender considerations into all policy development, implementation, and evaluation stages, ensuring that women's voices and priorities are heard and addressed.