New regional Gender Advisory Panel to advance gender strategy in MFF

Working in partnership with the MFF Secretariat, the panel will provide practical guidance to strengthen the implementation of gender integrated planning in MFF’s Phase 3 programme.

IUCN Regional Councillor Dr Arzu Rana-Deuba and Regional Vice Chair of IUCN’s Commission on Environmental, Economic and Social Policy (CEESP) Ms Meher Marker Noshirwani, were present, as well as representatives from regional institutions working on gender issues. This included WOCAN (Women Organizing for Change in Agriculture and Natural Resource Management) Knowledge Management Coordinator Dr Nisha Onta, and Sida National Programme Officer for  Sida’s Development Cooperation Section on gender, Ms Orawan Raweekoon. 

Although not present, gender practice leaders from USAID Lowering Emissions for Asia’s Forests (LEAF) project (Dr Kalpana Giri), UN Women (Ms Roberta Clarke), and UNDP (Ms Dipa Bagai) also confirmed interest in the discussions and advancement of the MFF Gender Advisory Panel.

At the conclusion of the meeting Dr Arzu Rana-Deuba and Ms Meher Marker Noshirwani were elected co-chairs of the MFF Gender Advisory Panel to lead the way forward with MFF Secretariat support.

A revision of the MFF Strategic Framework for Gender Equality Integration (2011) and review of priority strategic interventions and action plans for MFF Phase 3 will be the starting point for moving the process forward. The revised strategy and action plan will be presented at the RSC-11 meeting in late October by the regional Gender Advisory Panel.

For more information, please contact MFF Secretariat, through Ms Maeve Nightingale, maeve@mangrovesforthefuture.org.