The objective of this paper is to identify effective ways to integrate and mainstream gender equality into climate, energy and environment–related policies and programmes, learning from experiences on the ground in the Eastern and Southern Africa (ESA) region; and then propose ideas for further work and research. Throughout, women are viewed not only as victims of
climate change but as active agents for sustainable development.
The paper particularly draws on the experiences of the UN Women ESA Regional Office (ESARO) and the United Nations Development Programme–United Nations Environment Programme Poverty- Environment Initiative (UNDP-UNEP PEI) in the region; its scope is thus primarily limited to the practical experiences of UNDPUNEP PEI Africa in working with finance
and planning ministries, and UN Women ESARO’s programmatic experiences in gender
