Empowering women in the green and blue economies: UfM capacity building on gender equality and climate change

11 December 2024, Athens. The UfM capacity building on gender equality and climate change event, held on December 11, 2024, in Athens, aimed to address the intersection of gender equality and climate change, focusing on empowering women entrepreneurs in the MENA region to overcome challenges in finance and market access, particularly in green and blue sectors.

The event saw participation from around 30 women entrepreneurs in green and blue economy from the MENA region, alongside the trainer, experts, and representatives from Civil Society. It provided a platform for women to engage in practical exercises and discussions, focusing on topics such as creating business models, financial readiness, and gender-inclusive budgeting. Participants also had the opportunity to learn about funding options available in the region and share their perspectives on the tailored support needed to foster their growth in green and blue entrepreneurship.

The event also launched the UfM community of practices on gender and climate change which will be fully implemented in 2025.

Stephen Borg, Deputy Secretary General of the Social and Civil Affairs Division at UfM, emphasized the importance of empowering women entrepreneurs in addressing climate challenges in the Euro-Mediterranean region. He highlighted that the need to provide capacity building to enhance access to finance, develop gender-responsive tools, and equip women with skills and networks to succeed in green and blue economies.

Gemma Aubarell, Director of the Culture, Gender and Civil Society Department of IEMed presented the UfM-IEMed  kentledge -focused MedWE Programme, and its second Policy Study on Gender and Climate risks which will published early 2025.

Noura Abdelwahab, Senior Gender and Social Inclusion Expert at the International Water Management Institute, highlighted the Gender Transformative Approach implemented in the WE4F-MENA RIH Program, emphasizing the establishment of a Women Innovator Network.

Anthi Bruma, Deputy Regional Director of the Global Water Partnership for the Mediterranean Region, shared insights on water diplomacy and collaborative projects in the MENA region, the recently concluded “Matchmakers” project in Jordan and Palestine. She discussed the PRIMA-funded WEFE4MED project, which aims to establish formal Communities of Practice (COPs) for networking, mentoring, and knowledge sharing.

Back-to back with the Capacity building workshop, the UfM Technical Meeting on Women Empowerment, took place on December 12, 2024 and it focused on fostering data-driven approaches, sharing good practices, and further developing the Roadmap for the implementation of the 2022 Ministerial Declaration on Women. It aimed to gather technical input and insights to support policies and concrete actions in the Declaration’s priority areas, such as women’s economic empowerment, gender-responsive climate actions, violence against women, and women’s roles in peace and security.