"We are very pleased to bring the Gender and Climate Award to Pakistan, and I’m honored that Minister Rehman is honoring this event with her presence," said H.E. Mr. Nicolas Galey, Ambassador of France in Pakistan. "This award provides a platform for organizations and individuals in Pakistan to showcase their efforts in promoting gender equality and climate action and to inspire others to join the movement. It also echoes Pakistan’s leadership in international climate change negotiations after the floods of 2022, particularly during the COP27 in Sharm El-Sheikh", he added.

Mr. Mahmood Akhtar Cheema, Country Representative of IUCN Pakistan, said that “the Gender and Climate Award is in line with the gender policy objectives of the National Climate Change Policy of the Government of Pakistan (October 2021). IUCN has also made up a concrete follow up to the launch of the first national Climate Change Gender Action Plan of Pakistan, with the assistance of Green Climate Fund. The winners have received recognition, visibility, and support to scale their initiatives and to further advance gender and climate action in Pakistan.”

The award drew attention to good practices and concrete solutions led by women from civil society for a more fair, equal and healthy planet. It responded to the Paris Agreement's objective of promoting gender equality, justice and youth engagement in climate action. It sought to promote greater inclusion and leadership of women in climate action.

The award was open for activists, grassroots and women-led organizations (including community-based organizations), private education institutions, and social enterprises) working for climate protection and gender equality.

Applications for the Gender and Climate Award in Pakistan were screened by a jury comprising representatives from the Embassy of France in Pakistan, the AFD in Pakistan, IUCN Pakistan, as well as representatives from the Civil Society Coalition for Climate Change (CSCCC) and UNDP.

The jury selected the best initiatives that promote gender equality and climate action in Pakistan. The first prize winner received 3,500 EUR, the second prize winner received 2,500 EUR, and the third prize received 2,000 EUR. The award money will be invested in the initiative or project run by the winners.

[QUOTES BY AWARD WINNERS]

Humera Iqbal, She Leads Agriculture
“We women thought carefully about our own values and set ourselves challenges to lead by examples. We are better able to defend our role in taking genuine action to protect the next generation because of the threat that climate change poses to the entire world. We are stronger together”.

Irum Fatima, Pakistani Hoslamand Khawateen Network (PHKN)
“We believe in empowering women to play a key role in promoting environmental sustainability, thereby ensuring a sustainable future for generations to come.”

Mehreen Raza – SheGuard
“She-Guard is a shield to ensure women and earth's health. She-Guard is the silver lining for the most ignored problems of women health and climate change. She-Guard ensures that women problems aren't taboo anymore.”


For more information, please contact:

Hammad Saeed
Manager Communications and Knowledge Management
IUCN Pakistan, Islamabad Country Office
Cell. +92 307 7773801
E-mail: hammad.saeed@iucn.org