UNITAR is launching a global capacity-building initiative focused on strengthening women’s leadership in the gender–climate–peace nexus, drawing lessons from Africa and the Global South. Applications close on 11 January 2026.
The United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) has announced the launch of a new Capacity-Building Initiative aimed at strengthening women’s leadership within the gender–climate–peace nexus. This timely programme draws on key lessons from Africa and the Global South, regions that are at the forefront of climate vulnerability, conflict dynamics, and community-led resilience efforts.
The initiative responds to the growing recognition that climate change, gender inequality, and peace and security are deeply interconnected. Women, particularly in the Global South, often bear the disproportionate impacts of climate-related shocks and conflicts, yet remain underrepresented in climate governance and peacebuilding decision-making spaces. UNITAR’s programme seeks to address this gap by equipping gender advocates with the knowledge, tools, and leadership skills required to influence inclusive and effective climate action.
Addressing the Gender–Climate–Peace Nexus
The gender–climate–peace nexus highlights how climate change can exacerbate existing inequalities, contribute to resource-based conflicts, and undermine peace and stability. At the same time, evidence increasingly shows that women’s leadership and participation play a critical role in advancing sustainable peace and climate resilience.
UNITAR’s initiative is grounded in this understanding. It aims to strengthen participants’ capacity to analyse and respond to climate-related risks through a gender-responsive and peace-sensitive lens, ensuring that climate action contributes to long-term stability and social cohesion rather than deepening vulnerabilities.
Programme Objectives and Focus Areas
The capacity-building programme is designed to empower gender advocates, practitioners, policymakers, and emerging leaders with practical, action-oriented learning. Participants will gain insights into how climate change intersects with gender inequality and conflict, and how inclusive leadership can drive more effective outcomes.
Key focus areas of the initiative include advancing gender-responsive climate action, addressing climate-related conflicts, and influencing inclusive climate governance frameworks. By drawing on real-world case studies and experiences from Africa and the Global South, the programme ensures that learning is contextually relevant and grounded in lived realities.
Practical Knowledge and Leadership Development
A defining feature of the UNITAR initiative is its emphasis on practical knowledge and leadership skills. Rather than focusing solely on theory, the programme is structured to support participants in translating global policy frameworks into locally relevant strategies and interventions.
Participants are expected to develop competencies in leadership, advocacy, and policy engagement, enabling them to influence climate decision-making processes at local, national, and regional levels. The programme also encourages peer learning and collaboration, fostering networks of gender and climate leaders who can continue to exchange knowledge beyond the training period.
Learning from Africa and the Global South
Africa and the Global South are central to the design and content of the programme. These regions offer critical lessons on community-based adaptation, women-led peacebuilding initiatives, and innovative governance approaches in resource-constrained and climate-vulnerable settings.
By foregrounding perspectives and experiences from these regions, UNITAR ensures that the initiative challenges one-size-fits-all solutions and instead promotes context-sensitive approaches to climate action and peacebuilding. This focus also elevates voices that are often underrepresented in global climate and security discourse.
Target Audience and Impact
The initiative is aimed at individuals and organisations working at the intersection of gender equality, climate change, peacebuilding, and governance. This includes civil society actors, development practitioners, researchers, government officials, and members of international and regional organisations.
Through strengthened leadership and technical capacity, participants are expected to contribute to more inclusive climate policies, improved conflict prevention strategies, and gender-transformative approaches to environmental governance. Over time, the programme seeks to support systemic change by amplifying women’s leadership across climate and peace processes.
A Timely Global Intervention
As climate-related conflicts increase and global efforts to address climate change accelerate, the need for inclusive leadership has never been more urgent. UNITAR’s capacity-building initiative responds to this moment by investing in people who are well positioned to drive change within their communities and institutions.
The programme aligns with broader international commitments, including the Sustainable Development Goals, the Women, Peace and Security agenda, and global climate frameworks that call for inclusive, participatory governance.
Application Deadline
Interested participants are encouraged to apply and register for the programme before the deadline of 11 January 2026. Early application is advised, as spaces may be limited and interest is expected to be high.
Conclusion
UNITAR’s Capacity-Building Initiative on strengthening women’s leadership in the gender–climate–peace nexus represents a significant opportunity for gender advocates and climate practitioners to deepen their impact. By combining leadership development, practical tools, and lessons from Africa and the Global South, the programme aims to empower a new generation of leaders capable of advancing gender-responsive climate action and building sustainable peace in a changing climate.
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