Gender perspectives: Integrating disaster risk reduction into climate change adaptation: Good practices and lessons learned

This publication demonstrates the link between disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation, while contributing to the ongoing global effort to promote gender equality in socio-economic development.

The present publication seeks to highlight initiatives that have successfully used disaster risk reduction as a tool to adapt to climate change and reduce risk and vulnerabilities in various parts of the world. The good practices selected show how disaster risk reduction can be integrated into climate change adaptation initiatives to reduce people’s vulnerabilities to the impact of climate change and weather-related disasters, paying attention in particular to women’s needs and priorities.

The first section emphasizes women’s knowledge and capacity as environmental and natural resource managers. It also highlights the importance of land use and management, and alternative livelihood options in the context of climate change. The second section highlights women’s participation in community decision-making processes, showing the importance of building women’s and girls’ capacity in disaster risk reduction, and demonstrating their potential for leadership.

The third section briefly showcases some specific tools used to mainstream gender into planning and policy development, to assess vulnerability, and to design adaptive strategies.