“At Wfac, when we talk about meaningful participation at policy meetings, we mean having our partners participate & speak for themselves and not to be spoken for” – Dr. Zoneziwoh Mbondgulo-Wondieh, Wfac ED. “Reason it always fills my heart with joy to see that no matter the challenges often faced, we still find ways to bring those whose voices need to heard in these meetings and we sincerely thank our partners to supporting our ambitions to make all these a reality”
Happy to announce that representing us this year at the 2nd edition of the Feminist COP are these two amazing climate champions, Ms Dorise and Ms Georgia from Cameroon and Central Africa Republic.
Ms. Doris is a farmer and community leader based in the Northwest region of Cameroon, one of the conflict affected as well as climate affected communities in the country. For the past 24 years, Doris has lived and farmed in this community, organizing and leading groups of female farmers as a support and pressure group to lobby the traditional councils to allocate lands and space for women to farm their own crops and foodstuffs. Over the last four years, with the adverse effects of climate change on crop production, Doris and her team innovated traditional means of preserving water to help preserve water to irrigate their farms.
Ms. Georgia is a community leader based in central Africa republic and also a member of a women’s group called Mafobu, a movement actor of GenEgaliteECCAS. As a member of Mafoba, under he leadership and initiatives, she usually organizes community awareness activities on climate change and smart agricultural practices with small farmer holders and traders. Over the years, she has trained thousands of farmers across her community.
The feminist cop is an annual convening co-organized by FEMNET in partnership with Oxfam NOVIB, Natural Justice, PACJA, & the Africa Youth Commission & some WGC Africa members such as aMwa, Wfac. Feminist COP is based on the premise that women, young people, and indigenous peoples are most exposed to climate hazards and less able to adapt and/or recover. They are least positioned to cope with the effects of climate change due to their limited access to (natural and financial) resources, networks, decision-making power, and legal systems. They are also least likely to be compensated for climate impacts, having to bear the loss and struggle to rebuild their livelihoods and properties.
The theme of this year’s Feminist COP is “Just Transition.” This theme underscores the importance of inclusive, equitable, and gender-responsive approaches to addressing climate change and its impacts. It highlights the need to ensure that the transition to a sustainable future leave no one behind, particularly women, girls, and marginalized communities. The theme will be able to link the various thematic dialogues such as Climate finance, debt, renewable energy, the extractive sector, Loss and damage, and adaptation.
