Women peacebuilders at the nexus of climate, conflict and gender: a call to act together
On March 11, KAIROS Canada convened partners, allies and community members for the online launch of Women Peacebuilders at the Nexus of Climate, Conflict and Gender, a project that supports local partners working at the intersection of climate change, conflict and gender inequality with a focus on strengthening women’s leadership, resilience and advocacy in complex and fragile regions.
The virtual forum brought together global partners and interested parties from multiple regions across the world. Many attendees work on the frontlines of climate change, conflict and gender inequality. During the forum, they shared experiences, deepened collective reflection and identified pathways to strengthen existing and future collaborations.
Our project partners from Palestine, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), South Sudan and Colombia delivered powerful testimonies, reminding us that the challenges from this triple nexus of climate, conflict and gender are not experienced in isolation. They are deeply intertwined, compounding vulnerability while also revealing the strength and leadership of local communities, especially women and girls.
Partners also shared lived realities shaped by instability, environmental stress and systemic inequality.
For example, in Palestine, daily life under occupation and threats mean constant disruption, undermining attempts to meet basic needs and making long-term planning nearly impossible. In South Sudan, climate-induced displacement intensifies conflict over scarce resources, exposing women and girls to increased risks of violence and insecurity.
All partners emphasized that while women are disproportionately affected by conflict and climate, they are key actors in building peace, protecting the environment and sustaining their communities.
In the DRC for example, community-based approaches, such as promoting “positive masculinity” are helping to shift norms and engage men in advancing gender justice and the rights of women and girls. Their local efforts are also strengthening environmental stewardship, helping to protect livelihoods and promoting social cohesion.
The forum’s breakout discussions highlighted priority areas for strengthening program effectiveness and impact. We reflected on how climate change, through droughts, floods and resource scarcity, continues to disrupt livelihoods and social structures. We also discussed how these impacts often reinforce gender inequalities, further limiting access to food, education and decision-making for women and girls.
At the same time, colleagues highlighted the emotional and mental toll of these intersecting crises especially on women as caretakers of the community and the environment, calling for greater recognition of mental health as part of holistic responses.
Participants also identified strengthening solidarity and shifting how we work together as central themes that require urgent attention. Through conversations, there was a call for deeper collaboration across civil society, moving away from siloed and competitive approaches to work on these issues toward more coordinated, partner-led models. It is important to prioritize support for localization, ensuring that local organizations and communities are not only consulted, but actively lead in designing and implementing solutions. In addition, it is imperative to amplify partner’ voices in global advocacy spaces. They are the most directly affected by these intersecting challenges and bring critical knowledge and leadership that must inform policy and funding decisions.
Overall, the forum confirmed the relevance and urgency of supporting women peacebuilders at the nexus of climate, conflict and gender. It also highlighted the value of convening spaces that facilitate dialogue, strengthen partnerships and generate action.
As we move forward with this project, KAIROS will continue to build on these outcomes by supporting partner-led initiatives and advocating for more equitable and flexible funding approaches, especially for local organizations. We will look for more opportunities to foster collaboration across partners, allies and networks – globally and here in Canada. We will continue to support and strengthen local women peacebuilders and networks in their work to advance gender equality, climate justice and sustainable peace in regions affected by overlapping crises – work that is critical to the future of all of us and of the planet.
By Danielle Kamtié, Africa Partnerships and Global Climate Justice Program Coordinator, and Silvia Cristina Vasquez-Olguin, Global Partnerships Coordinator for Latin America and Gender Justice
“In Bethlehem, and the villages, we do not see ‘climate’, ‘conflict’ or ‘gender’ as separate files in a cabinet. We do not put these issues behind separate walls. In our lives, the struggle for our land, the struggle for our rights as women and the struggle against the occupation all happen in the same space. We see them as a single, lived experience.”
–Lucy Talgieh, Wi’am: Palestinian Conflict Transformation Centre, West Bank, Palestine
“When you look at the challenges of climate change, South Sudan is not prepared because the country is going through a lot of conflict, poor economy – the infrastructure is so poor. So, when these climate change issues are put together with all the challenges we are going through, it is a climate catastrophe in South Sudan.”
–Priscilla Ajak, South Sudan Council of Churches
“Women are not only caregivers at home and in communities, they care for and protect the environment – the land, the rivers…. And yet, as women, we are excluded from decision making about these issues. We need to fight for access to decision making spaces. And the impact of these intersecting crises on mental health of women and caregivers needs to be part of the conversation.”
–Kelly Campo, Organización Femenina Popular, Colombia
“The initiative “Foyers de Paix” (Homes of Peace) has helped mobilize men to join awareness campaigns. Positive masculinity encourages men to stand alongside women in advocating for women’s rights, recognizing that women cannot advance these issues alone.”
–Chantal Bilulu, Héritiers de la Justice, Democratic Republic of Congo
