Women Go Green Program
Environmental degradation is a consequence of unsustainable business and consumption patterns. Ecological challenges, natural disasters and unsustainable natural resource management disproportionately affect Women. Since women constitute the majority of the poor and are comparatively more dependent on scarce natural resources, they suffer in particular from these effects and the repercussions of climate change. Hence, the effects of climate change are not gender neutral.
Greening and gender equality and (equal) economic participation of women can benefit each other The opportunities the green economy potentially holds for women’s participation in green growth relate to green production and manufacturing pro-cesses (eliminating (chemical) inputs and hazardous working conditions), green consumerism (creating new business opportunities and markets), Micro-, small and medium enterprises (MSME) development and female entrepreneurship (including new professions, product development and use of green technology). FROWI is working to
- Accelerate a transition to the green economy where numerous green(er) jobs will be created for Women.
- Support social dialogue in lobbying and advocacy for policy change to ensure women’s full economic participation in green growth.
- Identify and address gender-discriminatory areas in national, local and customary law and procedures.
- Advocate on issues affecting women’s land and property rights, thereby fostering an enabling environment for women.
- Improve women’s access to information, especially at local level and in rural communities, e. g. through awareness and educational programmes and adequate modes of information (e. g. mobile phone services).
- Build and strengthen member-based organisations and networks and the inclusion of women in (women’s) entrepreneurial associations, unions and savings societies.
- Lobby for the representation of women entrepreneurs in green business networks and decision-making bodies.
- Monitor the gender implications of new policies, regulations and programmes in the green economy.