EPA and IFDD Empower Francophone Women Climate Negotiators in Accra

Accra: More than 50 French-speaking women climate negotiators, alongside their Ghanaian counterparts, are participating in a training workshop in Ghana. This initiative is part of their preparation for COP30, which is scheduled to take place in Belem, Brazil, in November.According to Ghana News Agency, the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) and the Institut de la Francophonie pour le développement durable (IFDD), a subsidiary of the International Organization of La Francophonie, are jointly organizing this four-day capacity-building program. The event, titled 'Capacity Building for Francophone Women Negotiators 2025', aims to enable these negotiators to actively participate in international climate change discussions under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) process.The workshop's objectives include providing participants with fundamental knowledge of climate negotiation processes and actors, mastering negotiation tools and communication strategies, and deepening their understanding of key negotiation topics. These topics cover climate finance, cooperation mechanisms under Article 6, transparency, loss and damage, technologies, mitigation and adaptation, and Action for Climate Empowerment (ACE), among others.Nana Dr. Antwi Boasiako Amoah, Acting Director of Climate Vulnerability and Adaptation at EPA, emphasized the significance of hosting the program in Ghana, given its proximity to numerous French-speaking countries. He highlighted the focus on 'women voices' and addressing women's issues within the negotiation framework.Dr. Amoah acknowledged the presence of a few women in global climate negotiations and stressed the need to train more, particularly young women, to play key roles in these discussions. He pointed out the language barrier French-speaking negotiators face in the UNFCCC process and the importance of bridging this gap by pairing English and French speakers to build collective capacities.The IFDD has, over the past four years, enhanced the capacities of over 400 women from French-speaking developing countries. Many of these women have become integral members of their countries' delegations and contribute significantly to their negotiating coalitions' efforts. Some have also assumed important administrative or local responsibilities within their countries.Countries often encounter challenges in international climate negotiations, necessitating continuous capacity-building for delegates to master negotiation techniques and develop coalition-aligned arguments. Regular changes in negotiator numbers within countries mean new recruits must grasp the UNFCCC process and negotiation tools swiftly.To strengthen Francophone women negotiators' capacities, IFDD and partners have planned activities, including virtual workshops, training sessions, negotiation support tools, and a twinning program between Francophone and Anglophone negotiators. The initiative receives financial support from Environment and Climate Change Canada, the Principality of Monaco, and the Gover nment of France.Professor Nana Ama Browne Kluste, CEO of EPA, praised the collaborative efforts and reaffirmed Ghana's commitment to partnerships that elevate Africa's voice in global discussions. She highlighted the dual role of women as being disproportionately affected by climate change and as leaders in resilience and innovation.Mr. Maher Kheir, the Ambassador of Lebanon and Dean of the Diplomatic Corps in Ghana, expressed satisfaction with the event's focus on amplifying the voices of the excluded and future generations in the global arena. He urged participants to remain determined and resilient as global negotiations intensify.