Burkina Faso, through the French Development Agency (AFD) and the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI), is in the process of formulating its long-term (2050) low-carbon development strategies.

At the current stage of reporting on low-carbon scenarios, it was important to consider gender, women’s empowerment and social inclusion aspects in the sectors of transport, waste, agriculture, forestry and other land uses (AFOLU), including the energy and industrial processes.

The gender focal points of the sectors concerned were able to exchange on:

• social risk management and mitigation. They looked at the actions that needed to be included to offset any negative impacts on individuals and groups that might be negatively affected by low-emission options;
• maximizing social co-benefits and gender inclusion Specifically, actions to maximize social benefits for women, youth, poor and marginalized groups were discussed;
• key recommendations for maximizing gender mainstreaming, women’s empowerment and social inclusion, in line with national sustainable development priorities for each low emission option at the sector level.

The focal points welcomed the initiative and encouraged it to be inclusive of all Burkinabe in low carbon development. GGGI gender specialist Ingvild Solvang added: “Burkina Faso is leading the way now in how to integrate gender and social inclusion in the LT LEDS by raising questions about how a low emission development future ‘leaves no one behind” but promotes gender equality and social justice. In the context of the discussions today, the envisioned transition for Burkina Faso is gender just.”