By Dorcas Kabuya

Climate change is no longer a distant threat. It is affecting every country on every continent.

From droughts and floods to erratic weather patterns, these changes are affecting both men and women, but often in different ways.

It is crucial to recognise that its impact is not gender-neutral as women have continued to bear a significant burden of the impacts of climate change in the  Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) region and globally.

It is for this reason that The Centre for Coordination of Agricultural Research and Development (CCARDESA), a Sub-Regional Research Organisation established by SADC Member States to coordinate agricultural research and development in the region, convened a climate change and gender training for SADC decision makers.

Climate Change Expert, Dr. Noah Zimba from Zambia hinted that without addressing the knowledge gap among gender-responsive institutions, the vulnerability of women will continue to increase.

Dr. Zimba explained that despite the SADC region being endowed with all the natural resources and water it was extremely vulnerable as the support system for livelihood was mostly dependent on rain-fed and smallholder production activities.

“The lens for gender as a nexus with climate change becomes very important because the gender segregation means that the impacts of climate change affect the gender profiles differently which raises the urgency for action,” he underscored.

Dr. Zimba stated that most countries in the region had developed respective Gender Action Plans adding that it was also imperative for these countries to not only enhance the execution of these plans but committed to raising the resources to build local-level resilience that is gender responsive.

“Without action, it will cost us unbearable implications on the gains that the region has made socially, economically, and also biodiversity stewardship coupled with the security of the region,” he detailed.

Dr. Zimba further emphasised that it was important for the region to put its resources where it mattered the most through sharpening and clarifying gender investment around climate change priorities for the respective countries and ultimately the region.

“Remember one country cannot address issues surrounding climate change as what affects Mozambique also affects Malawi and Zambia, therefore there is need for collaboration and promoting joined actions,” he specified.

And Civil Society Organisations from the region who attended the meeting also added their voice to this noble call as they strive to complement the government’s work in aiding the local people.

Mailes Zulu an impassioned environmentalist, and Chief Executive Officer of Save Environment People’s Agency (SEPA) said climate change was disrupting food security and there was an urgent need to bring all players together including the differently abled.

“We all have a responsibility to try and reverse the situation by venturing into sustainable ways of farming with knowledge from the past, present, and future as food insecurity is a danger not only to the region but families at large,” she stated.

Ms. Zulu echoed that climate change was a common challenge with no boundaries adding that isolated efforts would not take the region anywhere.

And Antionette Moleele from Global Climate Smart Agriculture Youth Network in Bostwana noted that Africa was not food insure but rather a change of mind-set in the way things are done was needed to achieve what is good for the region.

“We all are policy makers at whatever level and we have the power to change as long as we feel we need to change. We need to mould the Africa we want” hinted Ms. Moleele.

Meanwhile, Mpendulo Masuku from the Kingdom of Eswatini, a participant in the workshop, stressed the importance of documenting indigenous knowledge and breaking all barriers that impede collaborative efforts.

Mr Masuku called for tailored, evidence-based practices rather than a one-size-fits-all approach.

“We excel in policy development but often fail in its implementation, mostly because we don’t consult local communities,” He said.

The training was held under the theme ‘Building Gender-Responsive Climate Resiliency’ with the aim of empowering a coalition of gender champions and institutions through knowledge exchange and experiential learning for local-level climate resilience.