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The document outlines a study by Natural Justice and the International Development Research Centre (IDRC) focusing on the systemic barriers preventing women in Senegal's rural and coastal primary economies from effectively managing climate change. It argues that women possess essential empirical knowledge for resilience but are hindered by structural locks in local governance and a technocratic approach to public policy. The study seeks to move beyond viewing women as 'passive vulnerability' toward a model of legal empowerment that enables actual agency in decision-making processes regarding land access, inputs, and financing.

The document outlines the necessity of social and environmental safeguards in mangrove restoration to prevent ecological disruption and socio-economic harm. It provides a framework of actions based on Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) guidelines, covering areas such as environmental impact assessments, human rights, and gender equality. The brief highlights the Natur’ELLES project in Senegal, which has restored 123 ha of mangroves and 68 ha of continental forest while significantly increasing women's leadership in environmental management committees.

The Natur'ELLES project in Senegal addresses fisheries challenges like overfishing and habitat loss by empowering women through data access, education, and leadership training. The project utilizes tools such as the Sustainable Asset Valuation (SAVi) analysis tool and a Google Earth Engine Mangrove Mapping app to monitor mangrove health and support nature-based infrastructure. Specific initiatives include 'mangrove platforms' for stakeholder dialogue, literacy classes for women, and a feminist leadership program to increase women's participation in natural resource decision-making, particularly in the Sine Saloum and Casamance deltas.

The briefing examines how nature-based infrastructure (NBI) can provide equitable benefits for women, who are disproportionately affected by climate change. It highlights that while women often face barriers to accessing natural resources due to social norms and land tenure systems, NBI projects—such as mangrove restoration in Senegal or agroforestry in Belgium—can protect livelihoods and improve public health. The author emphasizes that integrating gender-responsive approaches and capacity-building strategies is essential for making climate adaptation more effective and sustainable. To support this, the IISD's NBI Global Resource Centre aims to incorporate gender-disaggregated data and specific gender-related questions into the valuation of NBI projects to ensure inclusive benefits.

The document presents an economic evaluation of the Saloum Delta in Senegal, demonstrating that preserving and restoring mangrove forests is a more cost-effective alternative to 'grey' infrastructure. Using the Sustainable Asset Valuation (SAVi) methodology, it quantifies the financial benefits of ecosystem services and compares them against the costs of built infrastructure and the impacts of various development scenarios, such as organic farming, reforestation, and solar cooking.

The report uses the Sustainable Asset Valuation (SAVi) tool to quantify the economic importance of the Saloum Delta's wetlands and mangroves. It compares a business-as-usual (BAU) scenario against interventions such as organic agriculture, mangrove reforestation, road construction, solar cookstoves, and oil extraction. The analysis highlights a significant trade-off: while oil extraction generates massive near-term revenues, it causes substantial losses in ecosystem services. Conversely, nature-based interventions like mangrove restoration and organic agriculture provide long-term economic gains through enhanced ecosystem performance and labour income. The report also proposes blended finance strategies, including carbon offsets and impact bonds, to fund conservation.

The report uses the Sustainable Asset Valuation (SAVi) methodology to quantify the economic contribution of the Saloum Delta's wetlands and mangroves. It compares a 'business-as-usual' (BAU) scenario with interventions such as organic farming, mangrove reforestation, solar cookers, road construction, and oil extraction. The analysis highlights a tension between long-term natural capital gains and short-term industrial revenues, specifically noting that while oil extraction generates high direct income, it severely degrades ecosystem services. The document proposes blended finance mechanisms, including carbon offsets and impact bonds, to incentivize conservation.

The report applies the SAVi simulation service to the Saloum Delta in Senegal, quantifying the monetary value of its wetlands and mangroves. It assesses the economic trade-offs between business-as-usual trends, infrastructure development (roads and oil extraction), and conservation efforts (organic agriculture, mangrove reforestation, and solar cookstoves). The analysis provides a baseline for policy-makers and investors to design conservation finance solutions and sustainable development strategies.

The report identifies a systemic gap between the numerical presence of women in local decision-making bodies and their actual decision-making power, termed 'participation de façade'. This exclusion is driven by a deeply embedded 'patriarchal habitus', significant 'time poverty' due to domestic burdens, and a lack of legal literacy. While women are central to the fisheries and agricultural sectors, they are largely excluded from the governance of these resources. The study proposes a transition from passive resilience to active environmental citizenship through a three-pillar model of legal empowerment: critical legal literacy, climate conceptualization, and transformational leadership.