Stakeholders have stressed the importance of gender-sensitive approaches to disaster prevention, mitigation, and recovery strategies, as well as natural disaster assistance, in pursuit of sustainable development.
The Minister of Women Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises Development, Hon Monica Mutsvangwa, addressed the delegates and highlighted the challenges and opportunities for integrating gender perspectives into disaster risk management.
She said that about 40% of the global population is now living with the harsh realities of climate change, such as high temperatures, drought, flooding, and many other extreme weather events.
Zimbabwe has not been spared from these effects, which have resulted in decreased agricultural production, food insecurity, poor health, scarcity of water and energy resources, climate-induced migration and conflict, and climate-related natural disasters.
She also pointed out that disasters, whether natural or man-made, have the potential to disrupt lives, destroy infrastructure, and cause immense suffering. They often exacerbate existing inequalities and disproportionately affect women, girls, men, and boys in different ways.
However, she lamented that the worsening impacts of such disasters lead to highly gendered impacts that largely affect women and girls. Violence against women and girls is also a factor during and post-disaster.
She cited evidence from the Cyclone Idai disaster in Zimbabwe, where more women than men reported losing their livelihoods and lives. She also mentioned the COVID-19 pandemic, where many women and girls faced gender-based violence and teenage pregnancies.
“Climate-induced disasters are now a reality and women and children carry the brunt of the impacts. Gender also intersects with other factors like disability, culture, religion, or socio-economic disadvantages, creating additional vulnerabilities and barriers to adaptation. These are likely to limit women in adopting effective strategies for preparing, adapting, and responding to disasters. It takes collaborative efforts such as this one to bring lasting change,” Hon Mutsvangwa said.
She referred to the Sendai Framework on Disaster Risk Reduction (2015-2030), which states that gender should be integrated into all policies and actions. She also mentioned the Beijing Agenda for Global Action on Gender-Sensitive Disaster Risk Reduction (2009), which calls for gender-sensitive approaches to disaster prevention, mitigation and recovery strategies, and natural disaster assistance.
“For Zimbabwe, we acknowledge that there is an urgent need for us to review and put in place the DRM Act, the Civil Protection Act, and a National DRR Plan that can be replicated at the local level. As a Ministry, we are committed to ensuring that our disaster risk management efforts are inclusive, equitable, and responsive to the needs of all people; integrating gender perspectives into our policies, plans, and practices, to address the specific vulnerabilities and capacities of women, girls, men, and boys,” Hon Mutsvangwa said.
She quoted Benjamin Franklin who said: “When the well is dry, we know the worth of water”. She urged stakeholders not to wait until it is too late to take mitigation and adaptation measures.
The Minister commended organizations like CARE International and UNDP for creating such platforms for joint efforts to scale up support and create spaces for women’s voices to be heard and ensure their active participation in decision-making processes during disaster planning, prevention, response and mitigation
