Enabling Women Leaders in Building Equitable, Inclusive, and Climate-Resilient Cities

Two thirds of African cities face extreme climate risks, with impacts falling hardest on the most vulnerable urban populations. Nature-based solutions (NbS) offer a cost-effective pathway to reduce climate vulnerabilities while enhancing biodiversity. However, women and other underrepresented groups are often excluded from shaping these interventions, despite their central role in stewarding natural resources.

The SUNCASA project addresses this gap by advancing gender responsive, socially inclusive NbS in Dire Dawa (Ethiopia), Kigali (Rwanda), and Johannesburg (South Africa). By responding to locally identified priorities, SUNCASA strengthens community resilience to climate change impacts such as flash floods, landslides, urban heat, and water scarcity, through NbS approaches that intentionally integrate gender equality and social inclusion.

At NGO/CSW 70, SUNCASA’s GESI experts and local GESI partners will highlight the project’s commitment to elevating women’s leadership within urban NbS. Discussions will explore the project’s climate adaptation and GESI strategy, complemented by a short film showcasing the lived experiences of women and underrepresented groups driving NbS efforts in their cities.

A panel featuring women’s rights and community organizations from all three cities will further explore how they are shifting norms, designing inclusive practices, and expanding opportunities—from engaging women in restoration work in Dire Dawa, to establishing a GESI code of conduct and supportive services in Kigali, to facilitating community dialogues on gender norms and intersecting vulnerabilities in Johannesburg. Together, these stories underscore the essential role of gender-responsive NbS in building more equitable and climate-resilient urban futures.