Integrating Gender-Responsiveness into the NCQG

Integrating Gender-Responsiveness into the NCQG

This one-pager presents options for integrating gender-responsiveness into the COP29 NCQG decision, providing a pivotal opportunity to enhance the quality of climate finance. By doing so, developing countries can optimise the social impact, beyond climate outcomes, that resources under the NCQG can provide. The business case for integrating gender-responsiveness into the NCQG decisions was discussed in the 2X Global input paper to the UNFCCC NCQG process, which this one-pager references for more details.

Options for Integrating Gender-Responsiveness into the NCQG

The following are pathways and non-exclusive options to incorporate gender-responsiveness into the NCQG framework by considering foundational principles, establishing specific subgoals and measurable indicators, and integrating reporting standards without adding reporting burdens to developing countries.

Option 1: Establishing a Core Principle in the Chapeau or Preamble

To embed gender-responsiveness at the foundational level, the NCQG's chapeau or preamble could include a statement such as: "Recognising the critical role of deploying climate finance through a gender-responsive manner to ensure equitable access and empowerment for women and marginalised communities most aected by climate change " This approach emphasises that eective climate finance must address existing disparities to be truly impactful Moreover, at a minimum, gender-responsiveness should be a baseline requirement integrated across all NCQG processes and outcomes By adopting language similar to that in paragraph 8(m) of the NCQG co-chairs' report, the COP29 NCQG decision can explicitly commit to equitable access as a core principle

Option 2: Embedding Gender-Responsiveness as a Stand-Alone Subgoal

Gender-responsiveness could be established as a stand-alone subgoal within the NCQG decision's main text for a targeted approach, supported by a call for specific, measurable indicators For instance, allocating a percentage of NCQG climate finance to gender-responsive projects would signal a significant commitment This option would also call for implementing a multistakeholder working group to develop specific gender and climate finance metrics that will set a baseline for what gender-responsiveness means beyond counting gender-disaggregated numbers of beneficiaries in climate projects and programmes

Option 3: Integrating Gender-Responsiveness within Combined Subgoals and Reporting Standards

Gender-responsiveness could be integrated into combined subgoals alongside other NCQG priorities like adaptation and resilience It is crucial to include specific language and indicators to prevent dilution of focus For example, a combined subgoal might state: "Enhancing equitable access to climate finance by prioritising gender-responsive, adaptive, and resilience-building measures for aected communities" This strategy allows visible progress by embedding gender-specific reporting within broader targets already reported by developing countries, enhancing accountability without increasing the current reporting burden Again, as for Option 2, this would require a call for a multistakeholder working group to set these reporting standards and metrics in a collaborative manner

For questions and information: Please contact Demetrio Innocenti (demetrio@2xglobal org) and Eleanor Ripoll (eleanor@2xglobal org)