Coordinating Climate-Resilient Development Conducting Gender Analysis to Inform National Adaptation Plan (NAP) Processes: Reflections from six African countries

The document outlines a framework for integrating gender considerations into National Adaptation Plans (NAPs) based on experiences in Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Ethiopia, Guinea-Conakry, Madagascar, and Togo. It argues that generic gender integration often focuses solely on women, whereas targeted analysis reveals nuanced differences in vulnerability and capacity between men and women. The proposed approach combines policy, institutional, and technical analyses to provide specific process and technical recommendations. Key findings highlight that while legal frameworks for gender equality exist, they are rarely linked to climate policies, and women remain significantly under-represented in decision-making for climate-vulnerable sectors.

• Most countries attempt to address gender in NAP processes, but often focus only on women rather than the dynamics between men and women, which can lead to generalizations about vulnerability and risk exacerbating existing inequalities.
• While the six analyzed countries have legal and policy frameworks for gender equality and identify it as a cross-cutting priority in development plans, these policies rarely mention climate change or adaptation.
• There is a significant gap in institutional coordination between climate change and gender equality focal points, with these priorities often treated separately within governments.
• Gender disparities in access to basic services, such as education and literacy, hinder women's ability to act as agents of change in climate adaptation.
• Gender roles within key sectors vary significantly by country, necessitating sector-specific analyses to ensure inclusive adaptation strategies.
• Women are severely under-represented in decision-making roles within climate-vulnerable sectors and public service, which impacts the gender-responsiveness of adaptation actions.
• The Green Climate Fund's (GCF) Readiness Programme is a critical driver for gender integration in NAPs, as it requires gender considerations as one of its ten review criteria for funding proposals.

APA

Dekens, J., & Dazé, A. (2019). Coordinating Climate-Resilient Development Conducting Gender Analysis to Inform National Adaptation Plan (NAP) Processes: Reflections from six African countries. International Institute for Sustainable Development. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/napgn-en-2019-conducting-gender-analysis-to-inform-nap-processes.pdf

Chicago

Dekens, Julie, and Angie Dazé. Coordinating Climate-Resilient Development Conducting Gender Analysis to Inform National Adaptation Plan (NAP) Processes: Reflections from six African countries. International Institute for Sustainable Development, 2019. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/napgn-en-2019-conducting-gender-analysis-to-inform-nap-processes.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Dekens |first1=Julie |last2=Dazé |first2=Angie |title=Coordinating Climate-Resilient Development Conducting Gender Analysis to Inform National Adaptation Plan (NAP) Processes: Reflections from six African countries |publisher=International Institute for Sustainable Development |date=March 2019 |url=https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/napgn-en-2019-conducting-gender-analysis-to-inform-nap-processes.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{dekens2019coordinating, author = {Dekens, Julie and Dazé, Angie}, title = {{Coordinating Climate-Resilient Development Conducting Gender Analysis to Inform National Adaptation Plan (NAP) Processes: Reflections from six African countries}}, institution = {International Institute for Sustainable Development}, year = {2019}, month = mar, url = {https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/napgn-en-2019-conducting-gender-analysis-to-inform-nap-processes.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }