Women from the continent are trained in negotiation techniques in Lomé – Togo-Presse

An international training workshop for African women on climate change negotiation is held in Lomé. The meeting, which is part of the project “ Capacity building for South-South negotiators on the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) negotiation process)”, will provide participants with skills to effectively engage on climate issues at conferences. It is an initiative of the Women Environmental Program (WEP) organized in collaboration with the African Working Group On Gender and Climate Change (AWGGCC) network, with the financial support of Climate Action Africa (CCA) of the Canadian government.

In Africa, research shows that climate change affects women more negatively than men in five areas, namely: agricultural production, food and nutrition security, health, water and energy and finally disasters, migration and climate-related conflict. Being one of the population groups hardest hit by the impacts of these changes, many women, especially African women, should be present at the table of global negotiations on the issue, in order to better promote their experiences and points of view. . Unfortunately, the participation of women in these major climate events is still low, especially that of African women. This is due to insufficient knowledge of climate change processes and a lack of negotiation skills.

Thus, to remedy this situation, Women Environmental Program (WEP) and its partners have initiated an international training workshop for African women on climate change negotiation, which has been held since yesterday in Lomé. The three-day meeting is aimed at members of the African Working Group on Gender and Climate Change (AWGGCC) network, current negotiators, UNFCCC gender focal points and other civil society organizations. About forty participants from five regions of Africa: Burkina-Faso, Cameroon, Democratic Republic of Congo, Egypt, Gambia, Ghana, Kenya, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Mozambique, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Somalia, Sudan, Tunisia , Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Togo.

The aim is to guarantee increased and effective representation and participation of these women in conferences of all kinds on climate change, so that their needs are better taken into account. There is also a need to provide participants with knowledge and understanding of the UNFCCC processes and to strengthen the support and synergy of the AWGGCC with the African group of negotiators.

On this occasion, the Minister of Environment and Forest Resources, Mr. Katari Foli-Bazi explained that African countries participate in conferences and meetings on climate, but often as spectators. And this, for lack of skills or adequate and effective strategies. Most of the time, countries limit themselves to declarations without any real commitment. To remedy this, it is necessary, not quantity in terms of representativeness, but quality, so that women are able to defend their rights, their positions and above all to weigh heavily in the balance of decisions. He praised the remarkable work that WEP is doing in Togo and reaffirmed the government’s support to accompany it for more impact on the ground.

For WEP Global President, Dr. Priscilla Achakpa, climate change has far-reaching impacts on communities and the wider environment. Women are the most affected by these scourges, because they are more dependent on natural resources which are increasingly degraded due to climatic hazards. We therefore need a synergy of action from all the players to reverse the trend and make their voices heard.

The representative of Climate Action Africa (CAA), Mrs. Gioconda Ortega-Alane, confided that life is intimately linked to the environment and, therefore, we must protect it and above all take the necessary decisions. And the point of view of women must be taken into account, especially since they are the most numerous and the most vulnerable. And it is CAA’s fight that accompanies all those who work to safeguard the environment.

The meeting was an opportunity to award prizes to certain personalities, including the Minister of the Environment, for their involvement in the fight to preserve the environment.

Melissa BATABA