The government through the State Department for Gender and Affirmative Action is seeking to strengthen gender responsiveness in a set of new policies on inclusion and climate action response.
The Male Engagement and Inclusion Strategy and the National Gender and Climate Change Action Plan (2024- 2027), earmarked for development, aim to harness the participation of men and boys in promoting gender equality and integrate gender perspectives in climate action negotiations respectively.
While addressing stakeholders in separate national consultative meetings to review the policy proposals, Gender and Affirmative Action Principal Secretary Anne Wang’ombe said that the policies, once developed and successfully implemented, will provide a robust framework to streamline existing and emerging gender inequalities across sectors.
Particularly, the PS noted that the Male Engagement and Inclusion Strategy, apart from addressing the unique vulnerabilities among men and boys, will highlight the critical roles that they can play in eliminating barriers, especially the retrogressive cultural and social norms that exacerbate inequality among women and girls.
PS Wang’ombe said that strategy will be instrumental in promoting positive social norms and attitudes as part of the national social transformation approach by the government to instill positive mindsets and shift perspectives about gender equality.
“Engaging men and boys does not mean that they are being equipped to fight women development. Rather, it recognizes the collective and individual roles of both men and boys in upholding their own rights while protecting the rights of women and girls”, said the PS.
On the other hand, the National Gender and Climate Change Action Plan (2024-2027) will center gender responsive climate action at the national and county discourses, addressing new challenges and gaps arising from the existing policy guidelines.
According to the Gender Balance and Equality Director Jackline Makokha, the plan will complement the existing National Climate Action Plan 2023-2027, which details the priority actions that the government is implementing within the same period to address climate change. However, the new action plan will focus on gender responsiveness with a view to developing a holistic framework that addresses the intersectionality between gender and climate challenges facing the country.
Besides, implementing the National Gender and Climate Action Plan 2024-2027 will see Kenya fulfil its commitment to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) processes which requires it domesticate the Gender Action Plan.
PS Wang’ombe said that the National Gender and Climate Change Action Plan will serve as a framework to ensure that the national policies, programs, and investments in climate action are inclusive, equitable, and effective.
“This plan represents a significant step in our commitment to address the pressing challenges of climate change while ensuring that our actions are inclusive and equitable”, said the PS.