Kampala, May 16, 2024 – The Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI), in collaboration with Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH, Ministry of Water and Environment-Climate Change Department (CCD), and Makerere University Business School (MUBS), organized the 3rd Women in Climate Change (WiCC) Conference which aimed to address the urgent need of sustainable financing mechanisms for women-led climate innovations to create lasting impact.
Under the theme “Advancing Climate Financing for Scaling Women and Youth-led Climate Innovations,” the WiCC Conference 2024 emphasized the importance of strategic partnerships and gender-responsive funding to support women disproportionately impacted by climate change. Despite making up 80% of those affected, women receive only 2% of climate finance. The conference underscored the need to integrate gender considerations into climate finance policies and decision-making processes to achieve a fairer allocation of resources. By elevating the voices of women and youth in climate action, the WiCC Conference aimed to foster significant progress toward a more sustainable and inclusive future.
Hon. Evelyn Anite, Minister of State of Finance, for Investment & Privatization, noted that “empowering women and youth is paramount in tackling development challenges. Through innovative approaches and gender-responsive actions, we can fulfill our commitment to climate action outlined in our national plan, ensuring inclusive and sustainable progress for all,” The Minister emphasized, highlighting the synergy between national development goals and climate action.
Hon. Beatrice Anywar Atim, Minister of State for Environment further stressed the need for diversifying funding for women and youth-led climate initiatives, “…maximizing impact through blended finance models, and aligning investments with their priorities for sustainable development is crucial… When you support a woman, you support the whole household”.
In acknowledgment of the remarkable efforts made by the different individuals in combating climate change, various awards were presented which included the Young Woman Innovation Award, Women in Technology Award, Climate Policy Advocacy/Leadership Award, Climate Activist of the Year Award, Outstanding Female in Climate Action at Grassroots Level Award, and the Outstanding Male Champion in Climate Action Award. These awards not only honored the accomplishments of the recipients in the fight against climate change but also underscored the significance of investing in and supporting women and youth-led initiatives as pivotal agents of sustainable transformation.
Moving forward, through the strategic interventions, the WiCC initiative hopes to continue empowering women and youth to drive tangible change within their communities. By supporting women, we can foster gender equality and drive innovative climate solutions.
