EmPower

According to the 2016 World Risk Report, 10 out of the 15 most at risk countries to climate change and disasters are in Asia and the Pacific. The region combines high exposure to frequent and damaging natural hazards with a low capacity to manage the resulting risks.

 

Climate change and climate-induced disasters remain the largest threat to the achievement of global sustainable development today. When disasters hit, often women and girls face secondary negative impacts such as gender-based violence, forced marriage and human trafficking.

 

The capacities, skills, and resources that women, girls and other diverse groups possess in effectively addressing climate change often go untapped due to stereotypes. The devaluation of their knowledge results in their exclusion from decision-making at household and community level.

The time is now to give a platform for women and marginalized groups to use their voices, agency and leadership and collaborate with men to build resilience and secure sustainable development. In this context, UN Women and UN Environment jointly initiated the EmPower project, with the support of the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency.

Between 2018 and 2022, the programme will focus on Bangladesh, Cambodia and Vietnam, along with many governmental, non-governmental and civil society organization partners, towards five goals.