Congolese Indigenous Women's potentials and Vulnerability on Climate Change

Congolese Indigenous Women in Mwenga, Eastern DRCongo

Indigenous women are among those who are highly vulnerable to climate change impacts because of several factors. First, most of them are highly dependent on natural resources and the integrity of the ecosystems or territories they inhabit to be able to perform their productive and reproductive roles and responsibilities in their societies. The majority of indigenous peoples live in territories or ecosystems which are very fragile and vulnerable to climate change. These territories include the Arctic, high montane areas, small islands and low-lying coastal regions, forests, grasslands and the savannah. Generally, indigenous women are the ones responsible for provision of food, fodder, water and fuel, care of the young, elderly and the sick and the transmission of traditional knowledge to the younger generations. Any development which diminishes their access to resources needed by them to perform these responsibilities will have serious repercussions on everyday lives of their families and communities. Secondly, they are still subjected to the worst forms of racism and discrimination, physical, sexual and psychological violence, human rights violations, and social and political exclusion. This is because they are women and because they are indigenous. Patriarchy is still dominant in both traditional and dominant cultures. While there are remnants of matriarchal and matrilineal societies among indigenous peoples, the influence of modernity eroded much of these. Discriminatory and racist behavior and mindsets against indigenous peoples are still prevalent, despite the existence of international norms and standards established and ratified by these States Parties. The inequalities and injustices related to access to climate change finance, technologies and technical assistance are very much linked with discrimination. The invisibility of indigenous women in the big picture of climate change impacts and xv solutions is a function of the general insensitivity or blindness to gender and ethnicity perspectives and issues. Thirdly, according to statistics, indigenous peoples are overrepresented among the world’s poor. They compose around five per cent of the world’s population, but they constitute around 15 per cent of the poorest of the poor (UN 2009, 21). It is safe to assume that indigenous women compose the majority of this 15 per cent. Their vulnerability to climate change impacts is higher as they do not have the resources needed to adapt to when more frequent droughts, floods, stronger hurricanes, etc. strike their territories and homes. But indigenous women also have strong potentials to contribute to climate change mitigation and adaptation. Since they greatly depend on the various ecosystems and the services emanating from these, they have the knowledge on how to sustain and manage these and how to adapt when changes occur. Many of them are traditional knowledge holders and practitioners of sustainable development. They are among those sectors of society who have the smallest ecological footprints.

Indigenous Youth Message for the UNEP on behalf of Global Stakeholders Forum

Message to Governements and UNEP for the Global Stakeholders Forum. 

From Indigenous Youth Of Africa While the world feels the impact of climate change, Youth and especially Indigenous and rural youth are impacted more than anyone. In Africa youth face double work load due to challenges that come with climate change causing them take longer to access basic facilities they require for their daily needs for them and their families. Indigenous youth from Africa believe that the only way to tackle some of the critical challenges of climate change is to mainstream Climate Change in all development programmes at all levels. The Indigenous and rural youth should be involved in the decision making processes and in planning, implementation and formulation of development programmes and policies with regard to Climate change. 

RECOMMENDATIONS 

1. CAPACITY BUILDING AND PARTICIPATION 

•  Indigenous Youth should be given equal opportunity to be in the decision making board/body, in Tunza Youth Advisory Group ,
• Involve youth and community members in policy formulation,
• Need for more awareness raising to local people of what climate change is all about Climate change education should be integrated in school syllabus/curriculum in the indigenous region; 
• Effective and wider dissemination of information on Climate Change at the grassroots level,
• Capacity building activities with regard to environmental issues and adaptation mechanisms should be carried out at the local and national levels for the benefit Indigenous youth who suffer from the effects of climate change. 

2. FINANCE 

• Need to have more information on the Green Climate Fund from National Focal Point on how to access and engaging the Indigenous and rural youth and local communities. 
• Facilitate access to Green Fund for Indigenous Youth with a view to help protect themselves from the effects of climate change Green Climate Fund and ensure that other finances should be available and distributed to local level organizations and communities 

4. FOREST 

• There is great deforestation that has affected the environment; this has also affected indigenous youth due to their dependence on environment. We urge government to provide seedlings for reforestation-support for traditional forest management,
• The government should incorporate traditional knowledge on forest management and make it part of the environmental policies,
• Governments engaging in the REDD programmes/FCPF should share benefits equitably with the indigenous peoples,
• Setting up of research centers focusing on indigenous trees and involve Indigenous youth, women local communities at all levels

 5. ADAPTATION 

• Facilitate direct access of indigenous youth to adaptation funds and technology for Climate change  Governments should facilitate sharing of best practice regarding coping and adaptation practices amongst communities and IP,
• Facilitate the development of appropriate adaptation technologies for IY particularly in agriculture,
•  Need to introduce alternative livelihoods for indigenous youth to help them cope with climatic change

 6. TECHNOLOGY AND ITS TRANSFER 

• Governments and donors should support capacity building for indigenous youth on new technologies and empower youth on the use of alternative fuel e.g. biogas, solar,
• Recognize importance of traditional knowledge and its integration with new technology in indigenous communities