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The document argues that voluntary sustainability standards (VSSs) can act as partners in implementing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by providing granular data and 'best practice' case studies for government reporting. While governments require high-level aggregated data for Voluntary National Reviews (VNRs), VSSs offer detailed monitoring that can fill data gaps, particularly in the Global South. An analysis of 13 VSSs showed high coverage of criteria related to SDG 8 (77.81%) and SDG 6 (72.82%), and moderate coverage for SDGs 15, 2, and 12. The brief provides guidelines for governments to engage VSS stakeholders and incorporate their findings into VNR sections such as 'Institutional mechanisms' and 'Progress on goals and targets'. Case studies from Uganda, India, and Tanzania illustrate how VSSs contribute to specific targets, such as improving land tenure for women in Uganda and reducing child labour through school infrastructure in Tanzania.

The policy brief examines how voluntary sustainability standards (VSS) can bridge data gaps and provide evidence for governments reporting on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through Voluntary National Reviews (VNRs). Through an analysis of 13 VSS, the authors demonstrate high alignment with SDGs 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth) and 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation), and provide guidelines for governments to integrate VSS data and case studies into their national reporting processes.

The report examines the intersection of voluntary sustainability standards (VSSs) and the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), specifically focusing on how VSS data can alleviate government reporting burdens in Voluntary National Reviews (VNRs). Through benchmarking 13 VSSs against five SDGs (2, 6, 8, 12, and 15) and providing practical reporting examples for Uganda, India, and Tanzania, the document demonstrates that VSSs can provide granular, on-the-ground data and 'best practice' case studies that complement state-centric reporting. It concludes with generic guidelines for governments to improve coordination with VSS bodies to advance the 2030 Agenda.

The policy brief examines how voluntary sustainability standards (VSS) align with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and can be leveraged by governments to enhance their Voluntary National Reviews (VNRs). Through a mapping of 13 international and regional standards, the research demonstrates high coverage of goals related to decent work (SDG 8) and clean water (SDG 6). The document provides guidelines for governments to integrate VSS data and case studies from countries like Uganda, India, and Tanzania to address data gaps and promote policy coherence in their national reporting.

The document identifies that girls and young women in Asia and the Pacific employ diverse strategies for climate advocacy, ranging from grassroots action to digital mobilization, but face significant structural barriers including restrictive gender and age norms, shrinking civic spaces, and 'youthwashing'. It recommends that international and regional policymakers institutionalize inclusive youth-engagement mechanisms and protect the rights of young women to freedom of expression and assembly.

The document compares 63 first and updated NDC submissions to assess their alignment with the 2030 Agenda. While updated NDCs are longer and contain more activities, the authors find that the share of quantified targets remains low for most SDGs. There is a notable increase in activities addressing social dimensions—specifically gender equality, reduced inequalities, and inclusive participation—but a concerning decrease in activities linking climate change to food security, water, and land use. Economic activities have generally increased in number, though energy access and affordability have seen a decline in priority.

The Gender and Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Advisory Committee, composed of representatives from several American nations and scientific bodies, has developed a draft implementation plan for the IAI's Gender, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Policy. The report recommends the adoption of draft decisions to formalize the committee's monitoring role and to establish a new Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities Advisory Committee to ensure equitable participation in the Institute's scientific and strategic planning.

The document reports on the establishment and initial work of the IAI's Gender, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Advisory Committee, which has developed an implementation plan for the institute's gender policy. It recommends that the Conference of the Parties adopt provisional decisions to monitor this policy and establish a new Advisory Committee for Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities (IP&LC-AC).

The document examines Germany's transition toward a Feminist Foreign Policy (FFP) and the 2023 BMZ Africa Strategy, 'Shaping the Future with Africa'. While it acknowledges the shift toward 'respect and reciprocity' and the alignment with Africa's Agenda 2063, the author argues that the feminist approach is currently too limited to international development. The brief suggests that for FFP to be truly transformative, it must be integrated into peace and security, trade (specifically the care economy), climate change (integrating indigenous knowledge), and migration policy, while consistently tackling the structural impacts of racism and colonialism.

The document examines Germany's transition toward a feminist foreign policy (FFP) specifically within its engagement with Africa, focusing on the BMZ's 2023 Africa Strategy. While it acknowledges the strategy's commitment to overcoming structural inequalities and aligning with African-led priorities like Agenda 2063, it argues that the 'feminist reflex' is currently limited to international development and fails to systematically penetrate other critical domains such as peace and security, trade, climate change, and migration. The author suggests that for FFP to be truly transformative, Germany must move beyond gender equality platitudes to address the care economy, indigenous knowledge in climate action, and the racialized nature of migration policy.

The report finds that women represent only about 10% of the Zambian mining workforce, primarily in support roles. Despite national policies like the Gender Equity and Equality Act of 2015, the sector suffers from a 'gender-blind attitude', persistent sexual harassment, and significant data gaps. The authors recommend standardizing gender-disaggregated data collection, promoting STEM education for girls, and implementing specific retention strategies to address the gender pay gap and structural barriers.

The report details a stakeholder event focused on overcoming the 'pattern of inaction' regarding gender impact assessments (GIAs) in mining. It identifies systemic barriers to GIA adoption, such as gender bias and a focus on permitting over community mitigation, while highlighting successful models from Canada, Mongolia, and Uganda. The event emphasizes the need for collaborative, experiential guidance and the institutionalization of gender considerations to prevent 'genderwashing' and ensure sustainable progress.

The report analyzes women's participation in large-scale mining across 12 countries, finding that while female employment is slowly increasing, the sector remains highly masculinized with significant structural barriers. Women often possess higher general educational attainment than men but lack the specific technical and vocational qualifications required for core operational roles. The report identifies a 'leaky pipeline' where women exit the workforce at younger ages, often due to non-inclusive working conditions, lack of childcare, and sexist corporate cultures. It further examines how disruptive technologies (AI, automation) and the energy transition (demand for critical minerals) will reshape the labor market, warning that without targeted upskilling, women may be disproportionately displaced from clerical and low-skill roles while remaining excluded from high-skill digital and technical positions. The document concludes with policy recommendations for governments and companies to implement gender-responsive strategies, pay equity reviews, and inclusive health and safety standards.

The report analyzes the participation of women in large-scale mining across 12 countries, finding that while female employment is gradually increasing, the sector remains heavily masculinized with persistent structural barriers. Women are often concentrated in administrative roles and face significant gender pay gaps, inadequate facilities, and a 'leaky pipeline' where they leave the industry earlier than men. The document explores how megatrends—specifically disruptive technologies and the energy transition—will reshape mining jobs, potentially displacing low-to-medium skilled roles (often held by women) while creating new opportunities in STEM and environmental management. It concludes with policy recommendations for governments and companies to improve data collection, eliminate sexist biases, and implement gender-responsive training and parental leave policies.

The report establishes a baseline for women's employment in large-scale mining across 12 countries, finding that while female participation is slowly increasing, the sector remains heavily masculinized with significant structural barriers. Women are often concentrated in administrative roles and face a 'leaky pipeline' where they leave the industry at earlier career stages than men. The document highlights a paradox where women in mining often have higher formal education levels than men but lack the specific technical and vocational certifications required for high-paying operational roles. It further analyzes how the 'mine of the future'—characterized by automation, digitalization, and decarbonization—could either marginalize women further due to a digital divide and STEM gaps or provide new opportunities in environmental engineering and remote operations. The report concludes with policy recommendations for governments and companies to improve gender-responsive data collection, workplace safety, and inclusive skill-development programs.

The report evaluates how Cambodia, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka integrate human rights and gender equality into disaster management. Using the FIRE framework, it finds that while national policies often recognize these rights, implementation at local levels is uneven and frequently lacking. Key barriers include restrictive social norms, lack of disaggregated data, and under-resourced institutions. The authors provide ten recommendations to improve inclusivity, emphasizing the need for meaningful participation of marginalized groups and stronger collaboration between disaster management agencies and human rights institutions.

The research paper examines the role of climate change literacy in Africa, highlighting a significant gap in public understanding of the human causes of climate change despite high perceptions of its impacts. It argues that increasing literacy—particularly for women and vulnerable populations—is essential for informed adaptation decisions, reducing vulnerability, and achieving the UN 2030 Sustainable Development Goals. The paper emphasizes the need for localized climate data, early warning systems, and the integration of climate literacy into education and policy to manage risks such as climate-forced migration and economic disruptions in sectors like hydropower.

The Gender Action Plan for the RECEM-Valles project in Bolivia's Valles Macro-region focuses on closing gender gaps through mainstreaming and transformative actions. It targets a minimum of 30% female participation among beneficiaries and productive associations, with specific goals to empower women-led households in climate-resilient agriculture, water management, and financial access. The plan includes the recruitment of a Gender Specialist and a specialist in masculinities to promote co-responsibility in care work and dismantle patriarchy. Key targets include reducing the time women-led households spend on irrigation by 20% through improved water-harvesting systems and ensuring women's leadership in territorial consultative platforms and municipal decision-making processes.

The report analyzes the intersection of climate-resilient infrastructure and gender disparities in 19 African countries. It identifies how climate change disproportionately affects women—increasing labor burdens for food, water, and energy—and how inadequate infrastructure exacerbates these vulnerabilities. The document provides detailed socioeconomic profiles for several countries, including Benin, Cameroon, Chad, and Nigeria, highlighting gaps in education, financial inclusion, and political representation. To mitigate these risks, the ICRF proposes a three-component strategy involving blended finance, capacity building, and policy interventions, with specific entry points for gender mainstreaming such as prioritizing women-led companies in procurement and collecting sex-disaggregated data.

The IGF conducted a hybrid training workshop on November 23–24, 2022, for 30 participants from 12 WIMOWA countries. The training focused on integrating gender equality into local content policies, specifically addressing women's access to direct employment and local procurement. Participants identified the need for multisectoral approaches, policy frameworks, and support mechanisms for female entrepreneurship to overcome sociocultural and financial barriers. Post-workshop feedback indicated that 93% of respondents felt their capacity on gender in local content was enhanced.