Elliot Orizaarwa

Women and Girl Child Development Association

Title: Empowering Women through Climate Financing: A Pathway to Climate Justice in Uganda

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Biography

Abstract

Climate changeis currently one of the greatest challenges facing all countries worldwide. Astudy by German Watch in 2021 revealed that between 2000 and 2019, about 475,000people lost their lives due to over 11,000 extreme weather events globally. Climate change disproportionately affectswomen, particularly in vulnerable communities. Climate financing can play acrucial role in supporting women's climate resilience and empowerment. Womenare more vulnerable to climate-related disasters and impacts due to social,economic, and cultural factors. Women often have limited access to climate-resilient resources, such ascredit, technology, and information.

This paper examinesthe intersection of climate financing and women's empowerment, highlighting theopportunities and challenges in promoting gender-responsive climate finance. Byanalyzing existing climate finance mechanisms and initiatives, we identify bestpractices and strategies to enhance women's access to climate finance, promotetheir participation in climate decision-making, and support their climateresilience and entrepreneurship. Ultimately, this research aims to informpolicymakers, practitioners, and donors on how to leverage climate finance toempower women and promote a more inclusive and equitable response to climatechange.

Findingsindicate that in Uganda, the current funding levels are still way below theestimated annual targets. Like many other developing countries, the Covid-19pandemic has constrained the fiscal space for Uganda, making into morechallenging to mobilise the resources for climate change domestically. Accordingto the National Budget Framework Paper for 2023/2024, the votes mapped underthe Natural resources, Environment, Climate Change, Land and Water ManagementProgramme have been allocated a total budget of Shs 547 billion, of which 269billion is domestic funding and Shs 279 billion is external financing.

There is need to mobiliseresources both internally and externally to finance initiatives aimed atpromoting empowerment of women to overcome the impacts of climate change