Gender Caucus

The Gender Caucus, recognized as a key platform for promoting gender-responsive action, will convene its fourth edition on December 7, 2024, during COP16 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Building on its endorsement by Parties at COP15 and its role in advancing the Gender Action Plan (GAP) and its roadmap, the Caucus provides a space to evaluate progress, share best practices and strengthen commitments to addressing gender equality in the fight against desertification, land degradation and drought (DLDD). I

The Caucus will center discussions on the following GAP priorities:

Inclusive participation: Empowering women to actively engage in designing, planning, implementing, and evaluating DLDD initiatives.
Economic empowerment: Addressing extreme poverty through gender-inclusive strategies in sustainable land management.
Land rights and resources: Strengthening women’s equitable access to land and critical resources.
Knowledge and technology access: Expanding opportunities for women to benefit from and contribute to innovations and effective practices.

In its technical sessions, the Gender Caucus will address critical themes:

Best practices in data collection and indicators:
This session will explore emerging practices in using sex-disaggregated data and gender-responsive indicators to measure DLDD impacts and inform future strategies. Recommendations from CRIC21 will guide discussions on refining these approaches for the next UNCCD strategic framework.
Women-led solutions for drought resilience:
Highlighting findings from a UNCCD-FAO study, this session will showcase innovative, community-driven solutions led by women. Women leaders will share their experiences and insights on fostering drought resilience and adaptation in diverse contexts.

By fostering dialogue and showcasing successful initiatives, the Gender Caucus continues to drive the integration of gender equality into the UNCCD framework, supporting sustainable and inclusive solutions to DLDD challenges while addressing barriers and accelerating impactful actions through collaborative dialogue.