Spotlighting Climate, Gender, and Peace at Zimbabwe's 2nd Climate Change and Development Conference

At the 2ndClimate Change and Development Conference in Zimbabwe, the CGIAR FOCUS Climate Security Team led two panels, one on climate, gender, and inclusivity and another on climate, peace, and security in Zimbabwe.

Officials from various government ministries in Zimbabwe, academia, development partners, and civil society organisations gatheredin Harare in October 2024 for the 2ndClimate Change and Development Conference under the Building Resilience, Securing the Future theme. This conference, co-organised by the Ministry of Environment, Climate, and Wildlife, the University of Zimbabwe's Environment, Climate, and Sustainable Development Institute, NDC Partnership, the International Centre for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT), UNDP, UNICEF,and Africa Carbon Markets Forum (ACMF) was an iteration ofthesuccessfulinaugural Climate Change and Development Conferencein 2023. The conference aimedto helpZimbabwe craft a sustainablepath tosocioeconomic development in the face of climate changeand itsadverse effects.

The conference sought to deepen the understanding of the complex interconnections between climate change, gender and inclusion and climate peace and security to better inform climate action. Outcomes from the deliberations at theconference would informa Call-to-Action document that would serveas a roadmap for stakeholders to champion informed national development in alignment with Vision 2030and inform the country's position at COP29 toengage effectively in international discussions and negotiations on climate change.

Setting the Tone for Climate Action in Zimbabwe

During the opening session, the Honourable Vice President, Rtd General Dr. Constantino Guveya Dominic Nyikadzino Chiwenga, emphasised the goal of the conference:

This gathering signifies our collective commitment to sustainable development and climate resilience in Zimbabwe. Let us remember, that our work does not end here at this conference. The outcomes of our discussions today and tomorrow must translate into real action on the ground. Together, we will lay a strong foundation for effective climate resilience and sustainable development in Zimbabwe."

Relatedly, the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator,Mr. Edward Kallon,emphasized the urgency of mobilizing resources and adopting strategic planning to synchronize Zimbabwe's national climate efforts with global initiatives. As COP29 approaches, he underscored the conference's significance, noting, "This year's conference is pivotal… representing our commitment to deliver actionable climate responses and sustainable development in Zimbabwe."

During the opening ceremony of the conferenceseveral key and strategic documents were unveiled to guide Zimbabwe's climate response, including:

• The National Climate Change Adaptation Plan

• Green Resilient Recovery Strategy and Investment Plan

• Long-Term Low Emission Development Strategy Investment Framework

These documents provide the roadmap for Zimbabwe's climate adaptation, resilience building, and sustainable development approach.

Conference Overview

As Zimbabwe grapples with climate challenges affecting agriculture, water security, and rural livelihoods, the Second Climate Change and Development Conference offered a platform for diverse stakeholders to collaborate on solutions.

The CGIAR FOCUS Climate Security Team led twosessions at the conference, one on climate, gender and inclusivity and another on climate, peace, and security in Zimbabwe.

Centring climate, gender, and inclusivity

In a session that unpacked the dynamics of climate change, gender, and inclusivity, it emerged that although climate change affects all, its impacts are unevenly distributed. Marginalised groups, women, and minority groups are disproportionately affected by climate-related issues. Underscoring this, Prof Patience Mutopo emphasised the need to incorporate gender into climate policy, advocating for an understanding of gender within the policy space and beyond simplistic binaries, paying attention to the methodologies employed to generate data.

Furthermore, panellists engaged with the topics of gendered impacts of climate change, climate change, food systems, gender, inclusivity in climate action, climate finance, gender, inclusive climate policies, and solutions for sustainable development. Plenary discussions challenged a common misconception that synonymises gender with women. Panellists and participants underscored the argument that gender analysis must go beyond focusing solely on women. It was emphasised that gender encompasses both men and women, and a nuanced gender perspective is vital for understanding how climate change affects people differently.

Signposting Climate, Peace, and Security in Zimbabwe

In this session, panellists and participants explored the critical intersection between climate change, peace, and security in Zimbabwe. It highlighted how the adverse impacts of climate variability and extremes exacerbate existing vulnerabilities related to food, land, and water systems, altering social cohesion and community relations, possibly triggering new forms of instability, and challenging peaceful relations at various social scales. With panellists from the Ministry of Environment, Ministry of Agriculture, UNHCR, CCJP and CGIAR, the session discussed how these climate impacts-such as resource scarcity, extreme weather events, and environmental degradation-can exacerbate tensions and lead to social unrest.

The various topics covered include an overview of climate change in Zimbabwe, implications for Social Cohesion & policy responses; climate, social inclusion, and peace in Zimbabwe; climate impacts, social tensions, and peacebuilding mechanisms; climate change, mobility and displacement and climate change and food security. The session featured insights from experts on conflict resolution and peacebuilding, focusing on how climate-induced stressors impact peace and security dynamics in Zimbabwe and discussed strategies that can be employed to prevent and mitigate climate-related risks to peace and security, build systemic resilience, and simultaneously promote stability and social cohesion. The session underscored the importance of local-level solutions, community involvement, and peaceful conflict resolution mechanisms to prevent climate-related social instability.

Looking Forward: Building Resilience for a Sustainable Zimbabwe

The conference underscored that Zimbabwe's fight against climate change is also a chance to reshape development. With a multi-sectoral approach, Zimbabwe can strengthen resilience, reduce poverty, and promote social cohesion and inclusion amidst climate threats. By aligning with international climate agreements and prioritizing community-driven solutions, Zimbabwe can navigate its climate challenges while ensuring a sustainable future.

Reflections and conclusion

The Second Climate Change and Development Conference demonstrated Zimbabwe's commitment to resilience and sustainability. Zimbabwe's prioritising of renewable energy, water management, and youth engagement offers a hopeful model for climate action. The collaborative spirit of this conference, with input from government, communities, and organisations, will drive meaningful progress. Moving forward, Zimbabwe's climate resilience approach is an inspiring example of how collective action can address global challenges and support sustainable development. What we have observed in Zimbabwe so far in mainstreaming climate, peace, and security into the wider debate on climate change has been encouraging.

Beginning from the Climate, Peace, Security and Migration workshop held in May 2024, followed by the inclusion of the theme in the 2ndClimate Change and Development Conference resulting in the discussions with policymakers and relevant stakeholders, has been commendable. There is no doubt that climate, peace, and security is increasingly recognized as a key factor in the broader climate change debate in Zimbabwe. Our goal mainstreaming this into key policies, sectoral policies. strategies and interventions are key to engendering peace-positive societies as part of building absorptive and adaptive capacities of communities most impacted by climate change.

Authors: SindisoNdlovu, Gracsious Mavizaand Joyce Takaindisa(Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT)

Acknowledgements

This work was carried out with support from the CGIAR Initiative on Climate Resilience (ClimBeR) and the CGIAR Initiative on Fragility, Conflict, and Migration (FCM). We would like to thank all funders who supported this research through their contributions to the CGIAR Trust Fund: https://www.cgiar.org/funders/

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