Reflecting Intersectionality of Climate Change Justice and Feminism

Women Fund Tanzania, in collaboration with the Gender and Climate Change Tanzania Coalition, recently conducted a two-day training aimed at promoting feminist awareness of climate justice.

The training, held at Nendiwe Wellness Centre, sought to deepen participants’ knowledge of climate justice agenda, feminism and wellness, and strengthen movement-building strategies for advocacy, and collective action within the broader climate justice movement. The training brought together participants from the diverse consortium of selected organizations, each represented from various regions of mainland Tanzania and Zanzibar.

The training kickstarted with a session led by Mary Rusimbi that saw participants reflecting on key concepts including, gender, gender analysis, gender justice, feminism and how gender interlinks with environmental justice, and why it is important to relate gender equality and climate justice.

She highlighted the non-gender-neutral impacts of climate crises and how women are disproportionately affected, the care burden on women during climate crises, and the significant responsibilities women bear in ensuring family safety and wellbeing. Rusimbi went on to stress the importance of integrating gender analysis into climate justice strategies to address these disparities.

During discussion, it was noted that women play an important role in climate justice initiatives as they are most affected during disasters, hence they are better positioned to help bring transformation.

Healing justice was also highlighted as a vital component of comprehensive climate justice, recognizing the mental and physical tolls on women. The participants proposed the integration of wellness practices into climate justice strategies, to support women’s overall well-being.

The participants also raised concern over the loss of indigenous knowledge systems, which are important in addressing climate change effects. The second session of the training focused on understanding climate change and its concepts including, the definition of concepts, causes, impacts and environmental laws.

The facilitator shared available opportunities in global and regional convenings that help push the women empowerment agenda, such as the Conference of Parties (COPs), UNGA (United Nations General Assembly), and AUS (African Union Summit).

The participants reflected upon the role of CSOs in promoting climate change initiatives. On the other hand, the facilitator insisted on the need for unity within the coalition and advised participants to come up with strategies that can help it work effectively, such as conducting expert mapping within the coalition, mapping resource people, and collaborating with others.

Throughout the workshop, participants shared their insights on issues around programmes related to climate change and women's intervention, carbon credit business, and challenges around lobbying and advocacy for change. Participatory group discussions were also held, focusing on the transitioning process to clean cooking energies, healing wellness in climate change, road map towards implementation.

At the end of the training, participants agreed to form a small task force and appoint a coalition coordinator. The main responsibility of the task force is to quickly develop an action plan, which will guide the coalition to move forward in implementing agreed issues.