Background: Humanity has tipped the six or the nine planetary boundaries (biosphere integrity, novel entities, biogeochemical cycles, climate, land system and freshwater changes) (Climate Governance Commission, 2023). Among these planetary crises, climate change is inducing serious environmental change in the form of water scarcity and droughts, floods and heat stress. The effects are being felt across sectors of the economy: agriculture, forestry, engineering, construction and other socio-economic dimensions of life, thus making climate change an environmental concern requiring urgent action to improve resilience (Innocent, 2020). Global environmental governance, using a gender lens, is critical if the current society is to be transformed to ensure sustainability (Karl, 2019; Joanna, 2023). There is still, however, inadequate robust empirical analysis of existing advocacy approaches to inform this process. The aquatic food producers, voluntary environmental non-migrants, women, and youth, among others are vulnerable (Naser et al., 2023; Oswald, 2018; Kamaldeen et al., 2022). Gender equality is a key ingredient in ensuring resilience of sustainable social and ecological systems both as a precursor to and a product of system sustainability. Conversely, gender inequalities can increase susceptibility to the vagaries of environmental change. Resource scarcities and climate and weather extreme events/disasters amplify gendered vulnerabilities to environmental change and shocks. The universal application of gender equality commitments (SDGs) should provide guidelines on targets for equality, inclusion and diversity at various levels. Yet, it is unclear how organisations (regional agencies, national governments, and non-state actors) prioritise the implementation of gender equality commitments (Lawless et al.,2021). Gender perspectives contributes to differential vulnerability between women and men during extreme weather and climate events. Women are vulnerable to climate change in unique ways while they are also instrumental in increasing resilience in agro-food sector. Resilience is essential as it empowers women and men before, during and after the extreme events (Oswald, 2018; Kamaldeen, et al 2022). Research has shown that increasing women’s participation in climate change governance leads to positive environmental outcomes, not just for women but for everyone compared to their male counterparts (Hannah, 2023). According to Hannah (2023), women tend to exhibit more knowledge about climate change, environmental concerns and pro- environmental behaviours than men. Thus, increasing women’s role in policy making outside women’s issues can be an effective way of advancing friendly environmental policies. As a result, governments should enact and design policies to eliminate gendered constraints and build women’s resilience capacities in line with SDGs, while also ensuring full, effective and meaningful participation in leadership in environmental governance (Kamaldeen, et al 2022). Young people are vulnerable to changing environmental crises due to their developmental stage, the high rated of mental conditions among them, and the lack of agency to address climate threats. It is therefore an imperative to engage the youth in environmental governance to understand their lived experiences and provide the necessary support to improve resilience. Climate sensitive sectors include water, energy and agriculture. Climate threatens food security among small-scale farmers. Some of the strategies that have been employed to build resilience among these farmers include: insurance schemes against drought; tree crops to build resilience in agriculture against climate extremes; desalinisation of sea water and water conservation efforts, policies that target greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions; decarbonisation of transport to reform the energy sector as well as environmental diplomacy at the local, regional and international level to spearhead environmental conservation (Ongoma, et al, 2024). Governments, communities and private sector should come together with strategies to improve resilience (Lisa, 2022). Resilience should ensure equity, inclusion and diversity, targeting the most marginalized, among them youth, women and elderly who are most vulnerable to climate and weather extremes. The proposed conference is part of awareness creation, advocacy, training and research on climate change-gender nexus issues, not only among the University of Nairobi Community but to the nation at large as the university forms the face of the nation in terms of higher education, with great influence on perceptions of other institutions and society on gender issues. The University of Nairobi through its vision and mission is committed to scholarly excellence and to providing quality university education and training that embody the aspirations of the people, locally and internationally. The institution has a Policy on Gender and Development as well as Workplace policy on gender-based violence to ensure a free and fair work and learning environment. Theme :Harnessing resilience in global environmental change and governance through equity, inclusion and diversity for youth, women and the marginalized. Sub-themes: Some of the sub-themes in include gender and:
- Climate change governance
- Environmental justice
- Climate risks and adaptation
- Global health and environmental governance
- Empowerment and climate change adaptation
- Governance and global financial infrastructure.
Other Sub-themes are:
- Gender mainstreaming in global climate change governance
- Women, climate change and energy
- Gender analysis in climate governance
- Policy and legislation and gender mainstreaming in climate governance
- Gender, climate information and resilience.
Submission Guidelines: The Manuscript should adhere to the following guidelines:
- Should be precise, relevant, and contribute to awareness creation, advocacy, training
and research on gender issues and interrogate emerging issues affecting families;
- Abstract should use English language and range between 250 (Minimum)and of 300 (Maximum) words with font size 12, single spaced and in Times New Roman font; where any other language is used, an equivalent English translation should be provided;
- Participants with full Papers which should be in English language, with a maximum word count of 8,000 may be published as part of the conference proceedings. Where any other language is used, an equivalent English translation should be provided;
- American Psychological Association (APA) referencing style, 6th or 7th Edition should be used;
- State how the author or their representatives would like to present their paper
(poster, oral, or any other). Guidelines on presentation will be provided separately
- Submit Abstracts to email address: gecandgovconference@uonbi.ac.ke
Conference Objectives: The Conference objectives are to:
- Increase awareness and advocacy in the use of gendered approach to national response to global environmental change and governance
- Promote equity, inclusivity and diversity principles at various levels of climate governance to ensure sustainability
- Invigorate discourse, research and training on the role played by different genders, sectors (agriculture, water, energy, biodiversity and climate) and policies in climate change governance, resilience and sustainability
- Evaluate possible gendered impacts of the Pact for the Future and its relevance to improving resilience in Kenya and other low and middle-income countries
Expected Outcomes:
- Awareness on gendered approaches to national response to global environmental change and governance
- Appreciation of equity, inclusivity and diversity principles at various levels of climate governance to ensure sustainability in the country
- Journal articles and policy briefs
- Sensitisation on and assessment of the gendered impacts of the Pact for the Future and its relevance to improving resilience in Kenya and other low and middle- income countries
IMPORTANT DATES
| Conference date | 28nd October 2024 |
| Abstract submission | 14th June, 2024 |
| Full Paper submission | 16th August, 2024 |
CHARGES Eligible participants: Researchers, media, government officials, entrepreneurs, family experts, families, religious leaders, students, experts in various subject matters covered in the theme and sub themes, development partners, non-state actors, are all eligible to participate in this conference subject to meeting the conditions below.
-
Undergraduate Students (Kenyans) KES. 200.00 (Equivalent of 1.50USD) Undergraduate Students (East Africa) KES. 300.00 (Equivalent of 2.25USD) Undergraduate Students (International) KES. 500.00 (Equivalent of 3.75USD) Postgraduate Students (Kenyans) KES. 750.00 (Equivalent of 5.62 USD) Postgraduate Students (East Africa) KES. 800.00 (Equivalent of 5.99USD) Postgraduate Students (International) KES. 900.00 (Equivalent of 6.74USD) Corporate individual registration KES 2500 Group registration capped at 5 persons KES 10,000 Exhibitors KES 50,000 Per Booth
Exhibition space measuring x by y and is provided with an exhibition table, three chairs, mounted tent, free Wi-Fi, one bulb and twin power socket. Exhibitors are expected to regularly check on the conference website for more details.
- Sponsors of the conference who have attached their sponsorship nomination acceptance letter as issued by the Conference organizing committee
- Gold sponsors shall contribute a minimum of KES 250,000 or its equivalent and shall enjoy waivered registration of up to three participants, free booth for exhibitions, and their logo shall be included in all communications materials of the conference
- Platinum sponsors shall contribute a minimum of KES 150,000 or its equivalent and shall enjoy waivered registration of up to two participants, and their logo shall be included in selected but not less than 4 communications materials of the conference
- Silver sponsors shall contribute a minimum of KES 75, 000 or its equivalent and shall enjoy waivered registration of up to one participant, and their logo shall be included in two major communications materials of the conference.
Presenters and speakers who have met the minimum criteria as provided by the conference brief All participants are expected to meet their travel and accommodation costs, travel visas for destination countries including where they are on transit, costs of exhibitions to the standard defined by the exhibitor and all other necessary costs. The conference will meet the cost of the venue of the meetings for the defined time as stated in the program, and provide microphones, projectors, and a single venue laptop for presentations (editorial work and conversion of files or testing of videos is not catered for). All participants must provide proof of payment of conference fees as per article 7 of this concept paper during on-site registrations open on 13th June 2024 at the University of Nairobi. Estimate budget of the conference: A detail budget is available to conference organizers, and sponsors The conference program: Still under development
