Blog A new mother and a seat in the training room: AGRHYMET sets standard for inclusive climate services
Real change in institutions starts with intentional decisions. With support from AICCRA, AGRHYMET Regional Center made one such decision to enable gender mainstreaming and shift how climate institutions value and support women and youth in the scientific space. Today, that decision is helping set a new standard for climate services across the Sahel.
Despite decades of climate information and advisory services in West Africa, effective mainstreaming of gender and social inclusion remains a persistent challenge.
This challenge spans the entire climate services chain, from the production of climate information to its dissemination and use. Supported by AICCRA, AGRHYMET Regional Center is taking concrete steps to change the narrative.
Moving beyond quotas and numeric representation, AGRHYMET is intentionally embedding gender responsiveness into the regional production, dissemination and use of climate information.
Behind this shift are targeted activities, committed leadership, and a clear vision for progress. AGRHYMET’s focus on embedding gender demonstrates that real transformation happens when climate action is paired with genuine social inclusion and activities that develop and reinforce institutional and technical gender-sensitive capacities.
According to Dr. Robert Zougmoré, AICCRA Director and Alliance Scientist, addressing gender dimensions is not a bonus element, but a critical condition for development impact.
''Our vision for climate services in Africa is one where no one is left behind. Mainstreaming gender dimensions is foundational to the success and sustainability of climate adaptation solutions. AICCRA promotes women and youth inclusion at the heart of capacity building, positioning them as knowledge producers and decision-makers.''
Robert B. Zougmoré
Director, AICCRA
Women are now participating at a higher rate (up to 40 percent) in capacity building workshops and trainings held by AGRHYMET with AICCRA's support.
Raising the bar to global standards
One of the most outstanding achievements through AICCRA's partnership with AGRHYMET is the surge in participation of women and youth in technical capacity-strengthening activities.
AGRHYMET has not only opened doors for women to join these trainings, but it has also ensured that they benefit from scientific and operational roles. In recent regional trainings on the NextGen approach for seasonal and sub-seasonal forecasting, women represented up to 40 percent of participants, well above the United Nations’ minimum threshold of 30 percent for women’s representation.
