Career Explorer: Working at the intersection of gender and climate

While statements like “women are disproportionately affected by climate disasters” or “women and girls are vulnerable in times of climate catastrophes” are true, they don't tell the full story, Natalie Sifuma, founder and community lead of Sisters in Climate, and former head of communications at SHE Changes Climate, told Devex. "No doubt these statements hold bulky, unignorable truth, but they are only a fraction of the full story," she said. As climate conditions worsen, women and girls find themselves facing not only loss of livelihoods but also increased risks to their sexual and reproductive health, rights and safety. To address these challenges, concrete steps must be taken — both at a systemic level and by individuals working in this field. We spoke with three seasoned professionals to provide more information about the key considerations for anyone looking to make a meaningful impact at this intersection — from how to get started to advancing your career. Understand the gender-climate nexus Climate impacts are increasingly exacerbating gender inequalities. A study analyzed survey data from 40,157 Indonesian women married between 2008 and 2013, including 4,832 child marriages. Using village-level disaster data (like earthquakes, tsunamis, floods, and storms) from the same period, they found that natural disasters significantly increased the likelihood of child marriage. Likewise, research by UN Women shows how climate particularly exacerbates gender inequalities in arid regions — where increased child marriage rates are linked to lower agricultural yields and greater economic pressures. Adolescent birth rates are also higher in arid regions, driven by factors such as limited access to family planning services and cultural beliefs. Find your niche The gender and climate field offers a wide range of roles, from movement coordinators to policy negotiators, scientists, and storytellers, said Sifuma. She advised those getting started to look at how different roles align with their interests — whether in policy, history, literature, or creative communications. “Understand the change you wish to see in your community, in your city or country, and the world. Design potential pathways that this change can be achieved, and explore what your various roles will look like along this path,” she said. “Figure out what type of work you want to do, and once you find the mode of working, there will always be ways to bring in a gender and climate lens to your work,” said Christina Kwauk, founder of Kwauk & Associates and co-founder of the Unbounded Alliance (a gender, education, and climate change specialist). She recommended starting by identifying whether you are drawn to research, program implementation, capacity building, or education. The work spans INGOs/NGOs, international development, think tanks, academic/research institutions, philanthropy, and government — but it generally “isn’t a money-making field,” she added. Ground yourself in local realities The most important thing is understanding gender dynamics within your local context — at a field level, said Grace Muinga, a Nairobi-based gender specialist, consultant and founder of the Gender Learning Network. “In some regions, cultural expectations shape the roles of men and women significantly,” she said. Gender roles in Kenya, for example, differ from those in Nigeria, and understanding these differences is key to advancing gender equality, Muinga told Devex. Likewise, “in areas where women are traditionally excluded from decision-making processes, projects that do not engage men as allies often face challenges in achieving sustainable change,” she said. Muinga explained that adapting strategies to account for local cultural dynamics can be effective. For example, by involving male community leaders in advocacy efforts, she said she was able to successfully encourage more inclusive approaches that benefit both women and men in the community. The local economic environment can also dictate a project's success, Muinga said. “In communities with limited access to markets, providing women with training on entrepreneurship and linking them to value chains can enhance their economic independence and resilience,” she said. In another initiative, her team facilitated partnerships between women farmers and local markets, which she mentioned led to increased sales and more stable incomes. Ultimately, it’s important to use local resources and networks to deepen your understanding of field-level realities. “The textbook experience and the field experience, in my opinion, are very different,” Muinga said, adding that she never pursued a formal degree in gender equality and social inclusion, or GESI, but learned on the job and through various courses. Work on your interpersonal skills Making a difference in this field requires both people skills and effective communication, said Sifuma, who spends her time between Nairobi and Cape Town as a communications and partnerships consultant. She said that when we talk about complex issues like climate change and gender dynamics, we can either invite or alienate others from conversations, depending on how we go about it. This is why it’s important to learn how to explain complex gender-climate issues in accessible language that can inspire diverse stakeholders, from policymakers to community leaders, to take action. “In this kind of field, which is tackling a planetary crisis, we require different perspectives and strengths ... we must be able to engage with each other — really listen and take all the steps to understand, so this makes people skills very important,” she said. Analytical proficiency is key Qualitative analysis and gender vulnerability assessments are key skills in this field, said Muinga. These are tools that identify the specific risks and inequalities that people face based on their gender. Such assessments typically explore access to resources (like land, education, health care, and finance), social roles, power dynamics within communities and decision-making processes, and exposure to risks like violence, poverty or environmental hazards. Successful assessments, Muinga emphasized, “actively involve diverse community members, particularly women and marginalized groups.” For example, in a recent project, her team conducted focus group discussions with women farmers to identify their specific vulnerabilities to climate change, ensuring their voices directly informed the assessment findings. Muinga said these allow professionals to understand the needs, gaps, and opportunities that exist, as well as come up with good solutions on how to address those issues. Muinga said it was vital to gather detailed data that is broken down by gender to understand how climate risks affect men and women differently. By collecting “disaggregated data,” her team can identify specific vulnerabilities or inequalities faced by different genders. "In one case, we analyzed access to resources like water and land across different genders, which highlighted disparities and enabled us to tailor interventions effectively," she explained. Lastly, Muinga stated that a successful assessment culminates in “concrete, actionable recommendations that address the identified vulnerabilities.” For instance, after conducting an assessment in Mozambique, her team proposed targeted training for women in climate-smart agricultural practices, which led to improved resilience among female farmers. Kwauk also emphasized the importance of systems thinking as a means to better make connections, see and work through complexity, and understand how different forces interact. Ultimately, understanding the bigger picture can help design more comprehensive, sustainable solutions. Where to start? Resources, certifications, training programs, and events Whether you are just getting started or seasoned in the field, there are a plethora of courses to explore. Kwauk recommended the RegenIntel Foundations Course, in which she lectures a module, and the resources at Women’s Environment and Development Organization. Muinga highlighted the GenderPro course at George Washington University for mid- to senior-level professionals and ILO’s Participatory Gender Audit Certification Programme for introducing and managing institutional change. Muinga also recommended the Professional Development Programme for Gender Trainers certificate by the KIT Royal Tropical Institute and UN Women. Agenda 2063, the African Union’s strategic framework, is another good resource, Muinga said, which positions gender equality not just as a goal but as a central pillar in all aspects of development. She also highlighted how engaging with global summits like the Africa Climate Summit is a key entry point for understanding this intersection. Muinga believes that understanding and participating in these global and regional platforms allows individuals to grasp how gender issues are being integrated into major climate and development policies​. Sifuma highlighted how it can be daunting to feel like you don’t have “enough” climate experience, and recommended the Pan-African ecofeminist community she co-founded, Sisters in Climate. She said they are planning to host master classes for nonclimate professionals to become better acquainted with climate conversations and communication styles. In terms of events, Sifuma also highlighted the Women and Gender Constituency Caucus Sessions at different climate events like the Bonn Climate Change Conference and the U.N. Conference of the Parties, or COP. She said that in between key moments, they host various workshops that are good educational and engagement opportunities for those wanting to expand their understanding of gender and climate. Kwauk also said that the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change is good to keep bookmarked.