IGAD Holds Regional Dialogue on Gender, Land, and Climate Resilience

Tariq Affan

Published: 10 July 2025

IGAD Holds Regional Dialogue on Gender, Land, and Climate Resilience

By Urban Shihemi, July 9, 2025

A three-day regional dialogue bringing together women parliamentarians and duty bearers from across the IGAD region has kicked off in Machakos County, with a sharp focus on gender equality, land governance, and climate resilience. The meeting, convened by the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), seeks to deepen regional cooperation and strengthen the commitment of member states to food security, environmental protection, peace building, humanitarian affairs, and economic integration. "Land is a critical defence against climate change, a source of livelihoods, identity, and security," according to Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly Hon. Gladys Boss, who made the statement in her opening remarks, which was read by Irene Mayaka, a nominated member of parliament. "But as we all know, insecure tenure and land degradation are not only problems for the environment or the economy; but also causes of forced migration, war, and growing inequality". she said. According to Hon. Gladys, women and girls across the IGAD region, bear a disproportionate burden of these challenges, forcing women and girls to walk longer distances for water and firewood, exposing them to security risks, reducing their opportunities for education and economic advancement. “Despite their central role in agriculture, food security, and natural resource management, women remain marginalized in land ownership and decision-making,”she added. The Ministry of Lands, Public Works, Housing, and Urban Development’s Cabinet Secretary, Alice Wahome underscored the critical role of women in climate adaptation and sustainable land management. The lands CS in her speech delivered by Dr. Juliana Mutua, Senior Deputy Director, State Department for Lands and Physical Planning said, “The Ministry of Lands, Public Works, Housing, and Urban Development’s ultimate vision is to secure land tenure and a sustainable built environment for all secure land rights that includes women's equal access to, control over, and ownership of land; digitalization; regulation and development of the construction industry; affordable housing; development of urban and metropolitan areas; research and development in land and built environment are key priority areas for the ministry,”. She said, The leaders called on IGAD member state governments to leverage data and technology to enhance transparency, improve land governance, and secure land rights especially for women and marginalized communities. “We cannot talk about climate resilience and food security without addressing the inequalities in land ownership. Women must have equal access and benefit from land as a productive resource,” said IGAD Deputy Executive Secretary, H.E Mohammed Abdi Ware. The forum also provided a platform to review policy gaps and share best practices in implementing gender-responsive land and climate policies across the region. Key discussions centered on women’s participation in decision-making, the use of digital land registries, and incorporating indigenous knowledge in climate adaptation strategies. The Regional Dialogue on Gender, Land and Climate Resilience is the culmination of a series of six national dialogue meetings conducted across Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, and Uganda. These national-level consultations brought together women parliamentary leaders, including members of key parliamentary committees on land, natural resources, climate change, and agriculture, as well as representatives from Women Parliamentarians’ Associations and national land institutions.

IGAD Holds Regional Dialogue on Gender, Land, and Climate Resilience

Tariq Affan

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IGAD Holds Regional Dialogue on Gender, Land, and Climate Resilience

Tariq Affan

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