In collaboration with the African Development Bank and the Climate Investment Fund, the AGNES rolled out a program: “Empowering Women’s Leadership: Revamping Gender Mainstreaming for Enhanced Influence in Major Climate Governance Events in Africa”. This kicked off with a call for nominations, inviting individuals as well as organisations to put forward nominees who fit the profile of women who had demonstrated leadership in climate change governance. This was followed by a thorough shortlisting process leading to the selection of 10 women from different African countries to participate in the program. These women, representing Eastern, Western, Central, and North African subregions, were then invited to an induction workshop in Nairobi in October 2024, which gradually evolved into a transformative experience. Their presence served as a powerful reminder of the urgent need to increase women’s representation and participation in all dimensions of climate action. The program was designed to build the capacity of women through an intensive induction workshop and to foster ongoing engagement through virtual meetings, mentorship, and collaborative discussion. This process culminated in real-world participation at major international climate change events, that is, the 29th Conference of Parties (COP29) and the Pre-SB62 AGNES Strategy Meeting.
Setting the stage: An engaging induction workshop
The two-day induction workshop took place in Nairobi with 10 women leaders in attendance alongside climate change technical experts and communication experts. The cohort of women leaders explored diverse themes, which included gender-specific climate policy approaches as well as strategic communication methods, together with the state of play of climate finance and adaptation at global levels. Qualified and experienced facilitators delivered content to the women through interactive sessions, equipping them with new viewpoints and functional tools to effectively participate in global and international decision-making platforms. In the next steps after the workshop, women leaders were required to write papers ahead of COP29. The workshop ushered in more engagement with women leaders through weekly virtual meetings.
Keeping the energy of women in climate governance through virtual engagement
Recognising that learning does not stop when the workshop ends, the program incorporated weekly virtual meetings to offer further technical support to the women as they wrote their papers ahead of COP29. Some of them partnered and selected a topic to work on, while others worked individually. Among the topics selected was Prioritising African Women’s Voices in Climate Change Decision-Making: A Call for COP29 Leaders to Demonstrate Gender Equity. The meetings also served as avenues to keep the women at par with the state of play of key thematic areas about COP conversations and expectations. They also refined their communication techniques and shared innovative ideas with their peers and experts from the AGNES. In essence, the weekly follow-up discussions ensured that the momentum was sustained, providing real-time support as the participants prepared for global platforms. This continuous engagement was pivotal in transforming initial enthusiasm into actionable confidence.
From induction and virtual engagements to real experiences of women in climate governance-empowered women at the COP29
With immersive induction and rigorous preparation through virtual meetings, write-ups, and informal group conversation, the team was ready to step onto the international stage. 6 of the empowered women had an opportunity to participate in COP29 discussions. Each was allowed to spend five days in Baku and participate actively in the pavilion discussion advocating for more inclusive, gender-sensitive climate policies. They got a chance to participate in COP29 side events that covered areas of their interest as speakers and in some as facilitators. They also followed the main discussions, with each one of them paying keen attention to the thematic area they were interested in, identified prior to COP29.
Aside from the sessions, the women were exposed to media engagement, giving their opinions on the COP29 from a gender lens hence inspiring young African women to get into these spaces. Further, the six fellows, Dr. Joyce Ogwezi, Anne Omwoyo, Beverly Mushili, Susan Nanduddu, Karishma Ansaram, and Namo Lawson, documented their experiences in blogs (blogs: Beverly Susan anne Namo) for the upcoming women leaders in climate governance to get hints, inspiration and learn.
Building capacities of women leaders in unlocking climate finance
With countries focusing on implementing their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), but a key challenge is turning NDC aspirations into actionable investment plans. COP29 highlighted climate finance debates, AGNES organized a five-day Training-of-Trainers (ToT) workshop for Kenyan experts to develop bankable project proposals and unlock climate finance. Among the participants were women leaders Anne Omwoyo and Susan Nanduddu, who contributed to designing climate adaptation projects while enhancing their technical skills. The workshop used a ‘learning by doing’ approach, guiding participants through practical sessions on Climate Rationale, Budgeting, and Theory of Change. The women also worked with experts to develop project concept notes using the complex Green Climate Fund (GCF) template, gaining hands-on experience in crafting clear, funder-ready proposals that align with national priorities.
Empowered women at the Pre-SB62 AGNES Strategy Meeting
Three of the women leaders of the women leaders have had an opportunity to attend, experience and participate in a preparatory meeting for the 62nd session of the Subsidiary Bodies (SB62). Three of the women leaders in climate governance, Nour Mansour, Eman Abdelazem, and Afia Agyapomaa Ofosu attended the Pre-SB62 AGNES Strategy Meeting held in February 2025, Nairobi. The aim of the meeting was to prepare and shape Africa’s position on certain segments including Agriculture, GGA, Gender and Climate Finance ahead of SB62 scheduled in June 2025. Nour Mansour participated actively in the agriculture segment, while Eman followed closely with the GGA conversation, and Ella focused on developing Africa’s position on Gender and climate change with other experts and negotiators. The active participation of these women during the pre-SB62 signifies how women are willing to take part in climate action at all levels, matching the proven necessity of their involvement.
Looking Ahead: A win for women in climate governance
The success story of the Empowering Women’s Leadership in Climate Governance Program is an indication that such efforts yield plausible results. The program equipped the women leaders with technical skills, strategic communication skills and most importantly, instilled confidence in them—a necessity to participate in high level climate change meetings. This is also a source of hope that in future more women will participate at high decision-making levels catering to the disproportionate impacts of climate change that women face. This project is an elaborate real time example of how sustained investment in capacity building and mentorship can lead to transformative outcomes.