The Ministry of Environment, Climate, Tourism and Hospitality Industry (MECTHI) together with the Ministry of Women Affairs, Community, SMEs Development recently validated the country’s climate change Gender Action Plan (GAP). Zimbabwe localised the GAP in response to the plan adopted during the Conference of Parties (COP) in 2019 following the Lima work programme roadmap. The nations GAP reaffirms the United Nations General Assembly resolution on the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development to achieve sustainable development in its three dimensions - economic, social and environmental. The GAP calls for inclusiveness as well as gender sensitive and responsive policies, programs and projects focused on minimising the impacts of climate change and reducing its negative effects.  The key objectives of the GAP are to facilitate the integration of gender considerations into the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) priority areas namely the Energy; Agriculture, Forest and Other Land Use; Industrial Process and Product Use and Waste sector.

The Director of the, Climate Change Management Department, Mr Washington Zhakata speaking on behalf of the Secretary for Environment Mr Munodawafa said that adoption of  the GAP “….is a significant milestone for the advancement of gender equality and women empowerment in the country’s climate change action that requires a transformative approach  to ensure full stakeholders participation across the gender divide.” The importance of linking climate change and gender in the revision of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) process in Zimbabwe was also emphasised as one that requires an inclusive and dual approach in both gender-responsive mitigation and adaptation measures. 

Mrs Tariro Chipepera, Acting Director Community Development Department in the Ministry of Women Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises Development said the GAP development will ensure that “gender aspects are factored into the NDC revision processes whilst leveraging on analysis undertaken, strengthening institutional mechanisms and ensuring gender responsive climate actions.” The GAP is a welcome addition to already existing instruments such as the revised National Gender Plan of 2017 aimed at promoting inclusivity towards the attainment of sustainable development.

Currently, Zimbabwe is in the process of revising its NDCs and it is important that gender responsive measures are mainstreamed into NDC sectors that cover the whole economy. A gender and climate change mainstreaming training manual that was simultaneously developed is set to be rolled out so that other institutions can utilise it as the country use in the mainstreaming exercise.

The GAP development process was supported by the United Nations Development Program under the Climate Promise initiative that seeks to enhance their NDC.