Guyana is positioning the agriculture sector to break barriers in the area of gender equality. The Caribbean Disaster Emergency Risk Management Agency (CDEMA) is currently hosting a three day regional training workshop for Integrated Gender Equality in Disaster Risk Management (DRM) Programming in the Caribbean that will conclude on Friday. The aim of the workshop is to give participants a clear idea on how to conduct a gender analysis and better integrate gender equality in all future interventions and national programmes and policies.
The workshop is being hosted in collaboration with the United Nation’s Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the Ministry of Agriculture to ensure equal opportunities among men and women in agriculture.
A section of the participants
At the opening ceremony for the workshop which was held at the Grand Coastal International Hotel, Ms. Dhanraji Madray, Assistant Administration of FAO Guyana in offering remarks, indicated that the barriers to women’s access to information can, to some extent, impair them.
“The Caribbean region is very vulnerable and at high risk of natural and man-made disasters. The disaster risk reduction community recognizes that gender equality is fundamental to increase resilience to disasters. Interventions that promote more equitable gender relations, by transforming gender roles, improving women’s position and challenging power imbalances between men and women are considered essential in building the resilience to disasters.” Ms. Madray said.
CDEMA’s Comprehensive Disaster Management (CDM) started in 2001 with emphasis being placed on addressing all hazards and empowering all sectors while building a regional culture of safety. The mainstreaming of disaster risk management at the sectoral level has been characterized as one of the priority outcome areas of the regional CDM strategy which is scheduled to be completed by 2024.
Agriculture Minister, Noel Holder in delivering the feature address pointed to the fact that the need for a multi-sectoral and multidimensional approach cannot be ignored.
“The way in which we approach these mechanisms for combating the effects of climate change, and by extension increasing our capacity for disaster risk management, should be within a holistic framework. We cannot neglect the need for multi-sectoral and multidimensional approaches. Today’s event, among others, indicates the willingness and efforts of the Region to foster and sustain such a holistic framework.” Minister Holder said