International Women’s Day 2022, on March 08, will be celebrated recognizing the contribution of women around the world on the forefront leading the change for a more sustainable and climate-resilient future for all.
According to UN Women, when climate-change induced disasters hit, women and girls’ lives and livelihoods are disproportionally affected.
This is due to lack of information, mobility, decision-making and access to resources and training, as well as gender-based cultural norms and barriers, UN Women explains.
As women and girls bear the burden of climate impacts, they are also essential to leading and driving change in climate adaption, mitigation and solutions.
An ample example of women playing a paramount role in addressing climate crisis in Rwanda can be found in Rulindo District, Ngoma Sector where Yanze Horticulture Promotion Cooperative (YAHOPROC) operates.
YAHOPROC conducts horticulture activities through the project “Knowing water better: towards a fairer and more sustainable access to natural resources – KnoWat” implemented by Action pour la Protection de l’Environnement et la Promotion des Filieres Agricoles (APEFA) with the financial support by The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).
It’s in this line that yesterday, March 03, 2022 a team from Rwanda Environment Management Authority (REMA) with its communication team led by Mr. Jean Claude NTAMUSHOBORA, visited YAHOPROC members of whom 60% are women.
Their talks focused on gender equality principle in climate change mitigation activities and the role played particularly by women in the cooperative.
The team also visited the solar-powered irrigation systems used by farmer members, the bamboo planted on the shores of Yanze River, agroforestry trees and horticulture fertilized by natural manure from pigs donated as part of the project.
