LocationsThe workshop informed reflections on how national reporting templates and data collection formats can better incorporate gender‑disaggregated and gender‑sensitive indicators.
Mauritius Advances Gender-Responsive Climate Transparency Through CBIT Gender Mainstreaming Workshop
February 4, 2026
Participants to the Capacity Building Initiative for Transparency Project Workshop on Gender Mainstreaming
Stephane Bellerose / UNDP Mauritius
The Ministry of Environment, Solid Waste Management and Climate Change, in collaboration with the UNDP‑supported Capacity Building Initiative for Transparency (CBIT) project, convened a Gender Mainstreaming Workshop in Quatre-Bornes. The event underscored the importance of understanding climate action as a gendered issue, where women, men, and gender‑diverse groups experience risks and opportunities differently due to social and economic inequalities. Ensuring that Mauritius’ climate reporting systems reflect these realities is essential to enhancing the accuracy, inclusiveness and transparency of its national greenhouse gas (GHG) inventory.
The workshop sought to achieve three primary objectives. First, it aimed to introduce and promote gender mainstreaming in mitigation actions across the Energy, Transport, Agriculture and Forestry sectors, strengthening women’s participation in alignment with the national Gender Action Plan. The second objective focused on identifying existing gaps and proposing corrective measures to integrate gender considerations into key CBIT components—particularly improving GHG data accuracy and localisation, strengthening inventory processes, and mainstreaming GHG reporting to support evidence‑based policymaking. Lastly, the workshop explored how gender‑responsive approaches can be more effectively embedded in future government policymaking and investment decisions, ensuring that climate action benefits all Mauritians equitably.
Gender equality as a core development priority
Speaking at the opening, Mr Jean‑Lindsay Azie, Team Leader, UNDP Mauritius Country Office, underscored UNDP’s commitment to gender equality as a core development priority. He stated:“The CBIT project places gender equality at the forefront, ensuring that our work aligns with national priorities as well as UNDP’s commitment to gender‑responsive climate action and GEF’s focus on gender mainstreaming. This approach ensures that gender considerations are systematically embedded at every stage of the GHG Inventory process, in alignment with the UNFCCC Gender Action Plan and UNDP’s broader vision for resilient and inclusive development.”
Mr R. Beedassy, Acting Director of the Department of Climate Change, highlighted the Ministry’s commitment to transformative governance, stating:“This workshop, which aims to build capacity and share experiences on gender‑responsive climate action, reflects the Ministry’s dedication to ensuring that all climate and development initiatives incorporate the contribution and leadership of women in mitigation efforts.”
The programme continued with a plenary session led by gender expert Me Mokshda Pertaub, who provided a comprehensive introduction to gender concepts and the fundamentals of gender mainstreaming. Her presentation emphasised that integrating gender dimensions into climate action is not merely a compliance obligation but a pathway to more effective and impactful outcomes.
During the workshop, participants reviewed findings from a recent survey that highlighted gender gaps across priority sectors. Discussions illuminated the ways in which gender influences access to information, participation in technical processes, and exposure to climate impacts.
The CBIT project, funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and implemented with support from UNDP, aims to strengthen Mauritius’ national GHG Inventory across sectors including Energy, Transport, Agriculture and Forestry. By improving systems of data collection, storage and dissemination, the project supports more effective climate decision‑making and contributes to the country’s long‑term resilience.