In a crucial step toward addressing the intersection of climate change and gender inequality, Climate Action Africa (CAA), in collaboration with the Women Environmental Programme (WEP) and Baastel, has held a two-day participatory workshop on Inclusive Climate Action and Leadership.
The event, funded by Global Affairs Canada (GAC) and implemented by the Alinea, Econoler, and WSP consortium, took place on September 4th and 5th, 2024, targeting media organisations across Nigeria, with the aim to enhance the capacity of media professionals to report on climate change through a gender-responsive and socially inclusive lens.
Program and Partners
The Climate Action Africa Initiative is a comprehensive program that provides technical assistance across sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), building local capacity to tackle climate change. Baastel, a Canadian international development consulting firm with expertise in performance evaluation, monitoring, and evaluation (M&E), and Results-Based Management (RBM), was engaged to deliver technical assistance in collaboration with WEP, a Nigerian non-governmental organisation committed to gender justice in environmental issues. Together, they structured this workshop to align with global commitments to the Paris Climate Agreement, while focusing on Nigeria’s specific climate response and gender inclusion challenges.
The Participatory Training for Media Organisations on Inclusive Climate Action and Leadership was designed to equip media practitioners with the knowledge and skills needed to effectively report on gender-inclusive climate actions. By using media as a tool to influence public perception and policy, the workshop focused on how to drive a more comprehensive understanding of climate issues while emphasising the critical role of women and vulnerable groups.
Understanding the Nexus between Climate Change and Gender Equality
The workshop was split into two key training modules. The first day focused on a crash course on the Nexus between Climate Change and Gender Equality.
On this topic, participants were introduced to foundational concepts, exploring the interconnectedness between climate change and gender equality. This session highlighted the importance of gender-sensitive climate actions and the global frameworks that inform these initiatives.
Reporting on Gender-Inclusive Climate Action
The second day focused on reporting on Gender Inclusive Climate Action, spotlighting practical applications, guiding media professionals on how to incorporate gender inclusiveness in their reporting.
The session provided tools for better storytelling, data visualisation, and strategies for engaging diverse audiences through climate reporting.
Topics Covered
The workshop curriculum included:
- Global climate change conventions and frameworks
- Nigeria’s climate response and policy strategies
- Adaptation and mitigation approaches in Nigeria
- Human rights-based approaches to climate action with a focus on gender equality
This comprehensive curriculum allowed participants to deepen their understanding of climate action within a human rights and gender equality framework, illustrating how inclusive climate policies result in more sustainable and effective outcomes.
Gender and Climate Change: A Critical Intersection
One of the key messages of the workshop was the critical importance of gender-responsive climate action. From a human rights perspective, the inclusion of women and vulnerable groups in climate change leadership ensures that adaptation and mitigation efforts are equitable and effective. Participants learned how policies that take gender into account are more likely to foster long-term environmental sustainability and social justice.
The sessions also emphasised the role of women in climate adaptation and mitigation, as well as the broader intersectionality of climate impacts. Vulnerable groups—especially women, children, and those in rural communities—are often disproportionately affected by climate change. Media professionals were encouraged to integrate these perspectives into their reporting, driving attention to the often-overlooked dimensions of climate impact.
The workshop successfully aligned its objectives with the global mandates set by the Paris Climate Agreement, as well as Nigeria’s climate policies. Through enhanced reporting guidelines, audience-sensitive communication strategies, and data-driven storytelling, Nigerian media practitioners left the workshop better equipped to influence public discourse around gender and climate.
Media organisations play a crucial role in shaping narratives and educating the public on climate issues. By embedding gender-sensitive reporting guidelines into their work, they can help ensure that climate actions are inclusive and reflective of the communities most affected.
Facilitators and Format
The workshop featured a hybrid format, combining in-person and virtual facilitation. Local experts Emitomo Oluwatobiloba, Gender and Communications Specialist at Baastel, and John Baaki of WEP led the on-ground sessions. Their insights were complemented by virtual contributions from Baastel’s global team, including Sara Nielsen and Cecilia Moreno Cruz, who specialize in climate change and gender inclusiveness.
The Participatory Training for Media Organisations on Inclusive Climate Action and Leadership is part of a broader effort by Climate Action Africa, WEP, and Baastel to ensure that climate change initiatives in Nigeria are socially inclusive and gender-responsive. As the effects of climate change intensify, it is vital that the media remain a powerful voice in advocating for equitable climate policies, ensuring that no group, particularly women and vulnerable populations, is left behind in the fight against climate change.
Chioma Kalu
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