Chapter 8: Gender Responsive Climate Finance: Policy Frameworks, Barriers and Inclusive Strategies in East and North Africa

Gender Responsive Climate Finance (GRCF) is vital for addressing the linked issues of climate change and gender inequality in East and North Africa. This chapter provides a comprehensive review of the policy frameworks, barriers, and inclusion strategies that influence GRCF in these regions. It covers international and regional climate agreements, such as the Paris Agreement and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Gender Action Plan (GAP). It highlights the importance of these agreements in promoting policy consistency for integrating gender into climate finance. Despite the existence of these frameworks, the chapter points out ongoing challenges, including the financial exclusion of women, institutional biases, deeply rooted socio-cultural customs, and gaps in gender-disaggregated data that impede accountability and targeted action. Inclusive strategies, such as gender-lens investing (GLI), gender budgeting, capacity building, participatory governance, and social protection mechanisms, are proposed as ways to advance gender equity and strengthen climate resilience. Evidence from both national and grassroots programmes demonstrates that increasing women's participation in climate finance management improves fairness and effectiveness. The chapter concludes with practical policy recommendations centred on institutionalising gender mainstreaming, enhancing gender-sensitive data systems, increasing innovative financing, and fostering multi-stakeholder collaboration. These actions are crucial to unlocking the transformative potential of climate finance and ensuring it is equitable, responsible, and aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). By situating GRCF within broader socio-political contexts, this chapter contributes to the global debate on the transition to sustainable resilience in East and North Africa.