Gender policy.

The Gender Policy promotes a gender-sensitive approach to climate action by recognizing the distinct vulnerabilities of men and women due to economic, social, and cultural differences. It seeks to ensure equal and equitable inclusion in projects that address gender-related risks. Additionally, it acknowledges the significant contributions of both genders in combating climate change and supports their equal participation in environmental management and implementation. This policy will be reviewed and updated by the Project Management Committee.
The objectives of this policy are to: (i) promote a gender-transformative management culture; (ii) identify and evaluate social and gender risks and impacts of projects, including through consultations with stakeholders and vulnerable communities, including women and men; (iii) advance gender equality while enhancing sustainable environmental and climate change outcomes, results and impacts; (iv) develop gender safeguards and mechanisms to mitigate risks and negative social and gender impacts associated with projects; (v) enhance the capacities of the personnel of the Department of Environment (DOE) to enable them to mainstream gender into their work; (vi) collaborate with partners to build capacity in mitigating gender risks and facilitating the implementation of gender and social safeguards, as well as monitoring and evaluation; (vii) guarantee the effective and proactive enforcement of the Directorate of Gender Affairs' internal policy on preventing sexual harassment; and (viii) achieve gender balance in recruitment and procurement.
This policy is founded on five core principles: a strong commitment to gender equality, equity, and gender-responsive budgeting; the promotion of inclusiveness and non-discrimination across all activities of the DOE; accountability for gender considerations in environmental and climate change outcomes; alignment with the Government of Antigua and Barbuda’s gender policies and priorities to safeguard gender, human rights, and the environment; and fair resource allocation to ensure both men and women benefit equally from the DOE’s environmental, adaptation, and mitigation initiatives. The DOE is committed to promoting social gender and sustainable development through its environmental projects and works to fund projects that yield environmental, socio-economic, and gender benefits.
This policy provides guidance regarding the standards and practices related to the gender impact assessment of projects and environmental principles, substantive standards and practices on environmental protection, building regulations, land use development and planning, and enforcement. The DOE aims to finance projects that maximize gender, environmental and socio-economic benefits to society as a whole and to vulnerable communities; minimize adverse environmental, socio-economic and gender impacts; include a gender policy and gender impact assessment; and comply with social, environmental and gender standards.