National Gender Equality Panel was held in Kazakhstan

As part of the Green Economy Financing Facility (GEFF) in Kazakhstan implemented by the EBRD, the National Gender Equality Panel was held on the 24^th of September. The online event brought together key market stakeholders to jointly discuss ways to facilitate mainstreaming of gender aspects into green financing in Kazakhstan.

The Panel was opened by the President of the EBRD, Odile Renaud-Basso, who reminded the participants that promoting gender equality is a global responsibility and that the ongoing pandemic and subsequent economic crisis have exacerbated existing gender inequalities. Ms. Renaud-Basso also brought attention to how the climate change disproportionately affects women and spoke of the role that gender-responsive investment culture will play in green financing.

Lazzat Ramazanova, Chair of the National Commission for Women’s Affairs, in her opening remarks updated the participants in regards to gender equality strategies in Kazakhstan and welcomed the further development of supporting mechanisms for female entrepreneurs.

The results of the Gender Baseline Assessment performed within the GEFF program were also presented. Some findings of the Assessment included such facts as:

Necessity to improve information support for “green” business projects with a focus on female audiences;
No gender discrimination in access to “green” funding, while the concept of traditional roles of men and women is preserved;
Women can be a driving force in the fight against climate change, provided they have the necessary knowledge and financing tools.

The final part of the Panel was devoted to the discussion on “Mitigating climate change through green finance: Strengthening the role of women”. The representatives of the EBRD, DAMU, FSFM, KMF, and Centre for Correction and Rehabilitation for Children with development disorders “Strana Chudes” discussed how to increase the uptake of green financing and support women business leaders.

More than 70 participants joined the event which signifies the importance of women in the context of climate change impact on business, green finance, and green technologies.