2024-03-24-世界银行-埃及——两性平等与气候变化_气候变化与发展报告背景说明（英）_31页_563kb

Summary: Gender Equality and Climate Change in Egypt

Core Content

This document is a background note attached to the Egypt Country Climate and Development Report (CCDR), focusing on the intersection of gender equality and climate change. It outlines the current status of gender equality in Egypt, highlights gender inequalities in climate-affected sectors, and discusses the gendered impacts of climate change. The report also identifies key barriers and opportunities for gender-responsive climate action, and proposes interventions to unlock women's potential in climate adaptation and low-carbon development.

Main Points

1. The Gender Dimension of Climate Adaptation and Low-Carbon Development

• Egypt's National Climate Change Strategy 2050 is a comprehensive and ambitious plan worth $324 billion, aiming to support a stronger, greener economy.
• The strategy integrates climate change into sectoral planning, particularly in energy, transportation, agriculture, and water resources.
• COP27 in 2022 emphasized the importance of gender equality, women's empowerment, and women's leadership in climate action.
• The Enhanced Gender Action Plan (GAP) aims to advance gender-responsive climate action and ensure women's meaningful participation in the UNFCCC process.
• Integrating gender considerations into climate actions is essential for long-term sustainability and development effectiveness.
• Women are often more vulnerable to climate change due to gender gaps, including limited access to resources, education, and financial services.
• Women are also disproportionately affected by unpaid care work, which limits their ability to engage in climate-related decision-making and disaster response.
• Women-headed households are especially vulnerable to climate change due to their family status and risk of exploitation.
• The just transition toward a low-carbon, climate-resilient economy must include women as consumers of clean energy, employees, and entrepreneurs.

2. The Status of Gender Equality in Egypt

• Egypt has made significant progress in gender equality, especially in political representation.
  • Women's seats in national parliaments increased from 1.97% (2012) to 27.4% (2020).
  • Women's representation in ministerial-level positions rose from 10.3% (2012) to 24.2% (2020).
  • The Women on Boards Indicator increased from 13% (2020) to 16.7% (2021).
• Microfinance has seen higher female participation than male, with nearly twice as many female beneficiaries in 2020.
• The maternal mortality rate dropped from 54 to 44 (per 100,000 live births) between 2010 and 2018.
• The illiteracy rate among women decreased from 33.1% (2014) to 22.6% (2020).
• The gender gap in education enrollment disappeared between the academic years 2010/2011 and 2019/2020.
• Despite progress, challenges remain:
  • Low female labor force participation (15% vs. 67% for men in 2021).
  • High female unemployment (24.3% vs. 5.9% for men in 2021).
  • High NEET rates among young women (44% vs. 17.2% for young men in 2020).
  • Disproportionate representation in the informal sector (62.4% of non-agricultural women in informal employment in 2018).
  • Low female entrepreneurship (15% in 2020).
  • Gender-based violence (GBV/VAWG) remains a significant issue, with 17% of women aged 15–49 experiencing physical or sexual violence in the last 12 months.
  • Early marriage is still prevalent, with 11% of girls aged 15–19 married before 18 (2017).
  • Female genital mutilation (FGM) is still widespread, with 85.6% of women aged 15–49 having undergone the procedure (2021).
  • Sexual harassment is a severe problem, with 10% of women aged 18–64 experiencing it in the streets and 7% while using public transport (2015).

3. Gender Inequalities in Climate-Affected Sectors

• Agriculture and Livestock:

  • Women are vital drivers of climate resilience in agriculture and water management.
  • Women account for 58% of agricultural workers, but are rarely recognized as decision-makers.
  • Women are often employed in low-paying, informal, or seasonal jobs.
  • Women are underrepresented in formal agricultural employment and face limited access to agricultural extension services.
  • Despite their role in food production, women are rarely registered as underwriters or financial contract holders.
  • Land ownership is a significant barrier, with only 5% of agricultural land owned by women.
  • Livestock ownership is more common, with women often owning or sharing control of livestock with their husbands.
  • Livestock can serve as collateral for financial resilience and is an entry point for rural entrepreneurship.

• Water Management:

  • Women are central to water collection and safeguarding.
  • In Kafr Sheikh, 30% of farmers and irrigators are women, and 87% of survey respondents reported women participating in irrigation activities.
  • In New Lands, 69% of respondents noted women's involvement in farm irrigation.
  • Recent research suggests women are more active in irrigation due to drip and sprinkler technology.
  • However, women often face barriers in accessing water management resources and decision-making roles.

Key Information

• Women's role in climate resilience:

  • Women are household managers and key players in agricultural and water-related activities.
  • They are often the first responders to climate shocks and disasters.
  • Women's different understanding of vulnerability can contribute to more inclusive and effective climate strategies.

• Barriers to women's participation:

  • Social norms and legal constraints limit women's access to land, financial services, and decision-making.
  • Unpaid care work is a major burden, especially for rural and low-income women.
  • Gender-based violence and early marriage are systemic issues that hinder women's agency and participation in climate initiatives.

• Opportunities for gender-responsive climate action:

  • Empowering women through education, skills development, and financial inclusion.
  • Enhancing women's access to capital and markets.
  • Involving women in policy design and implementation.
  • Promoting women's leadership in climate-related decision-making.
  • Supporting women's entrepreneurship in renewable energy and sustainable agriculture.

Way Forward

• The National Climate Change Strategy 2050 emphasizes the integration of gender equality and women's empowerment.
• The National Strategy for Adaptation to Climate Change includes gender-sensitive indicators and quotas for women's access to finance, credit, and training.
• Legal reforms are necessary to address gender-based violence, early marriage, and FGM.
• Institutional support is required to remove constraints and enhance women's representation in climate policy and decision-making.
• Investment in women-focused climate adaptation measures is crucial for improving climate resilience and achieving low-carbon development.

Conclusion

The document underscores the importance of gender equality in climate adaptation and low-carbon development in Egypt. It highlights the vital role women play in climate resilience, especially in agriculture and water management, and calls for systemic changes to enhance women's participation, leadership, and agency in climate action. The just transition must be gender transformative to ensure equitable and sustainable outcomes for all.