Gender Caucus

Gender

The Gender Caucus, recognized as a key multi-stakeholder platform for promoting gender-responsive action under the UNCCD, convened its fourth edition on December 7, 2024, during UNCCD 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 provided 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). 

The Caucus discussions center 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 at COP16, the Gender Caucus addressed critical themes:

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

The Gender Caucus session at UNCCD CRIC23 will feature a panel comprised of outstanding Indigenous women leaders from various regions, presenting their perspectives on the worldviews and leadership of Indigenous women on sustainable land management. Another session will focus on the gender dimensions of sand and dust storms, unveiling new findings from initial research conducted by UN University students on this topic, drawing on case studies from Mali, Egypt and Australia.   

At UNCCD COP17, the Gender Caucus will likely focus on the role of and challenges faced by women in rangelands contexts, and will also build on recommendations from gender issues identified at CRIC23.