On the occasion of the World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought, Malaz Foundation for Women's Support affirms that climate change is no longer merely an environmental issue; it has become a growing development and human rights challenge that threatens livelihoods and deepens inequalities, particularly for women and girls, who bear increasing burdens due to the degradation of natural resources and the worsening economic and social crises associated with climate change.
The Foundation believes that desertification and drought are among the environmental challenges that most severely affect vulnerable populations. They contribute to declining agricultural productivity, increasing pressure on water resources, rising poverty rates, and growing food insecurity—consequences that directly impact women, both within households and in local communities that rely heavily on natural resources for their livelihoods.
Radwa El-Khouly, Executive Director of Malaz Foundation for Women's Support, stated: “The crises of desertification and drought expose deep gaps in social and climate justice. Women are carrying increasing burdens as resources decline and economic vulnerability grows, while their participation in shaping climate policies and decision-making processes remains insufficient.”
She added: “Addressing desertification and drought cannot succeed through environmental solutions alone. It requires policies that place people at the center of the response and recognize that empowering women and strengthening their participation is not simply a development option, but a necessity for achieving more equitable and sustainable development.”
The Foundation emphasized that building communities capable of adapting to the impacts of climate change requires investing in women's capacities, enhancing their access to resources, economic opportunities, training, and capacity-building programs, while ensuring their meaningful participation in planning and decision-making processes related to natural resource management and climate action.
In this context, the Foundation calls on relevant stakeholders and policymakers to integrate a gender-responsive approach into national strategies for combating desertification and adapting to climate change, and to adopt more inclusive development frameworks that ensure women and girls are not left behind in confronting growing environmental challenges.
In this context, Malath Foundation calls on stakeholders and decision-makers to integrate a gender perspective into national strategies for combating desertification and adapting to climate change, and to adopt more inclusive development approaches that ensure that women and girls are not left behind in the face of increasing environmental challenges.
The Foundation concluded its statement by emphasizing that a more sustainable and equitable future can only be achieved through policies that recognize women as key partners in protecting natural resources and strengthening community resilience in the face of crises, stressing that women's empowerment is an integral component of any serious and effective response to current climate challenges.
