Staff Report
ISLAMABAD: The Embassy of France and Agence française de développement (AFD), along with the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN Pakistan), on Wednesday, announced the winners of the first Pakistan Gender and Climate Awards to mark the International Women’s Day, under the patronage of Honorable Senator Sherry Rehman, Minister of Climate Change. This award aims to highlight women’s commitment and leadership in the fight against climate change and the need to adopt a gender-responsive policy in line with the Paris Agreement.
“We are very pleased to bring the Gender and Climate Award to Pakistan, and I am very honored that Minister Rehman is honoring this event with her presence,” said Nicolas Galey, Ambassador of France in Pakistan, “this award provides a platform for organizations and individuals in Pakistan to highlight their efforts in promoting gender equality and climate action and to inspire others to join the movement. This award echoes Pakistan’s leadership in international climate change negotiations after the floods of 2022, particularly during the COP27 in Sharm El-Sheikh.”
Mahmood Akhtar Cheema, Country Representative of IUCN Pakistan, said, “The Gender and Climate Award is in line with the gender policy objectives of the National Climate Change Policy of the Government of Pakistan (October 2021). The IUCN has also made up a concrete follow-up to the launch of the first national Climate Change Gender Action Plan of Pakistan, with the assistance of the Green Climate Fund. The winners have received recognition, visibility, and support to scale their initiatives and to further advance gender and climate action in Pakistan.”
The award draws attention to good practices and concrete solutions led by women from civil society for a more fair, equal, and healthy planet. It responds to the Paris Agreement’s objective of promoting gender equality, justice, and youth engagement in climate action. It seeks to promote greater inclusion and leadership of women in climate action.
Winners of Gender and Climate Award
The award was open for activists, grassroots and women-led organizations (including community-based organizations), private education institutions, and social enterprises) working for climate protection and gender equality.
The applications for the Gender and Climate Award in Pakistan have been screened by a jury comprising representatives from the Embassy of France in Pakistan, the AFD in Pakistan, IUCN Pakistan, and representatives from the Civil Society Coalition for Climate Change (CSCC) and the UNDP.
The jury has selected the best initiatives that promote gender equality and climate action in Pakistan. The first prize received 3,500 EUR, the second prize received 2,500 EUR, and the third prize received 2,000 EUR. The award money shall be invested in the initiative or project of the winners.
