Mainstreaming Gender and Climate Change in Research Programmes in Burkina Faso
Context
Research and innovation are essential to the economic and social development of countries. Gender mainstreaming initiatives have been carried out in the development of policies and strategies in Burkina Faso. However, there is a lack of attention to the holistic consideration of the gender-climate change-research nexus in research programmes.
The MESRI’s Direction Générale des Etudes et des Statistiques Sectorielles (DGESS), responsible for planning, forecasting, and monitoring-evaluation, has observed that a gap in research programmes is the lack of a theme on the ‘gender-climate change-research’ nexus. This theme would provide relevant and scientific data on the differentiated impacts of climate change on women and men, as well as the gender implications of identifying and prioritising climate solutions. Such research would serve as a gender-sensitive tool for decision-making and advocacy.
Objective of the technical assistance
The overall objective of the technical assistance is to enhance the integration of gender and climate change considerations into research policy, plans, and programmes in Burkina Faso, in relation to the implementation of the National Action Plan (NAP) and the Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC). Improving the capacity of these programmes will be a vital step in advancing gender mainstreaming in the identification and execution of climate solutions to address the adverse impacts of climate change across various sectors. The project aims to enhance the resilience of all social groups, promoting fair and sustainable development in Burkina Faso.
The specific objectives are:
- To develop an approach for integrating the gender, climate change, and research nexus into research programmes.
- Strengthen the capacity of research stakeholders to consider the gender, climate change and research nexus in research programmes.
Technical assistance should encompass the participatory development of the Guide and the implementation of the planned training courses. The aim is to establish a culture of integrating the gender and climate change nexus into the conduct of research programmes and the exploitation of research results
CAA Technical assistance
Thanks to the technical support provided by Oxfam Consults, the project aims to assist institutions in Burkina Faso in better incorporating gender equality into their climate change policies and actions.
In practical terms, this means:
- Training government researchers and planners to better understand the connections between gender and climate.
- Developing and sharing tools and practical guides for integrating these issues into research, planning and programmes.
- Building the capacity of universities and research centres to incorporate both gender and climate considerations in their work.
- Assist the government in planning climate measures that address the specific needs of women and men.
- Identify resources to sustain gender mainstreaming across all sectors.
The direct beneficiaries are government departments, researchers, teachers, and gender experts. Ultimately, those who will use the research results—such as farmers, women’s cooperatives, government projects, and local communities—will also benefit.
