The threat of climate change worldwide is growing, and women are impacted uniquely and disproportionately. To elevate their voices, mobilize resources to female frontline activists, and enact change now, we need collaboration across sectors. In other words, a new kind of partnership.
Meet the Global Alliance for Green and Gender Action, GAGGA for short.
GAGGA is the first-ever, multi-actor network that has harnessed the collective power of the women’s rights and environmental justice movements, from local to international levels, to fight for for women’s rights to water, food security, and a clean, healthy, and safe environment.
Since 2016, GAGGA has collaborated with national, regional and global women’s rights and environmental justice funds and organizations in more than 30 countries across Latin America, Africa, Asia and Europe, and prioritized financial and capacity strengthening support to local groups, collectives and organizations who are fighting women’s rights to water, food security and a clean, healthy and safe environment.
GAGGA is a consortium led by the Fondo Centroamericano de Mujeres, based in Nicaragua, in collaboration with Both ENDS and Mama Cash, both based in The Netherlands, and in a strategic partnership with the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs. It also partners with Global Greengrants Fund and Prospera – International Network of Women Funds, as strategic allies, to develop and offer insights into the importance of supporting women’s rights and environmental justice.
With less than 1 percent of international philanthropy going to women’s environmental initiatives, GAGGA seeks to get funds into the hands of women, knowing that they play a key role in addressing the climate crisis.
With €32 million mobilized to support women and mixed gender groups worldwide addressing environmental threats, the impact of such a collaboration has been influential and profound.
Take for example the Women Oriented Reaction for Change, a group in Cameroon who is using funding from GAGGA to develop a national action plan that promotes women’s rights in internationally financed development projects. The organization aims to at end increased sexual violence, a consequence of the recent and dramatic increase of large development projects and extractive activities in Cameroon.
Support from GAGGA has also helped women from many communities organize and oppose the development of Inga 3 Dam in the Congo River. To date, their efforts have prevented emissions of up to 14,300-33,000 tons of CO2.
Moving forward, it is our hope that GAGGA will continue to receive critical funding from the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs over the next five years to support women’s environmental action worldwide.
This will be key to helping women who play a vital role in taking action on climate, managing natural resources, and mobilizing efforts to preserve access and use of these resources for themselves, their families, and broader communities.
To find out more about GAGGA, please click here.