Gender and Social Inclusion
Climate change exacerbates existing inequalities and increases the vulnerability of women and other marginalized and underrepresented populations to gender-based violence, disempowerment, poverty, food insecurity, and more. Gender equitable and inclusive climate programming improves adaptation, mitigation, and resilience results while also reducing gender inequality and elevating women as climate leaders. To achieve USAID’s ambitious goals, climate and development programs must take a rights-based, gender-responsive, and socially inclusive approach. USAID’s Climate Strategy accounts for the unique knowledge, skills, and networks that make women and girls critical stakeholders in designing and implementing climate solutions. USAID’s Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment Policy elevates women’s leadership in climate action as a key objective and includes specific recommendations for integrating gender equality into climate-related sectors. USAID works with women and girls, as well as youth, Indigenous Peoples, and other marginalized and underrepresented groups, to identify and implement climate actions, ensuring climate solutions do not exacerbate inequalities or lead to unintended consequences in the process.
2023 Gender Equality and Women's Empowerment Policy
This policy provides the vision for USAID’s work to advance gender equality and women’s empowerment around the world—establishing our strategic objectives and driving investments across our operations and programs in order to achieve these aims.
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