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Gender Mainstreaming refers to the coherent and comprehensive inclusion of gender considerations into the design and implementation of the NBSAP. Gender mainstreaming can increase the effectiveness of implementation and can help ensure that biodiversity objectives do not undermine human well-being. The potential benefits of gender mainstreaming include avoiding the risk of worsening existing gender inequalities through biodiversity policies, programs and projects; gaining the support and engagement of women, who form half of the population; benefiting from women’s specific knowledge regarding biodiversity, its uses and conservation; and contributing to improving the wellbeing of women and of the poor. Although women are specifically mentioned only in Target 14, gender considerations crosscut most of the Aichi Targets. There are many ways to approach gender issues in the NBSAP. Regardless of the specific steps taken, and the particular areas where each country may focus, there are four broad goals that planners should aim to include gender issues in their NBSAPs, including: (a) ensuring women’s participation in decision-making; (b) preventing negative impacts on women; (c) promoting benefits for women; and, (d) promoting gender equality.

Main Resources

• CBD Capacity Building Module 9, B Series: Mainstreaming Gender Considerations in the Development and Implementation of NBSAPs
• CBD Technical Series No. 49: Guidelines for Mainstreaming Gender into NBSAPs *a set of checklists contained in Annex 4
• Environment and Gender Index
• UN Women (Gender and Women’s Empowerment)
• International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)
• Women’s Environment and Development Organization
• CBD Cross-Cutting Theme on Gender and Biodiversity