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The new WeCaN Community of Practice for women in dryland regions kicked off its first workshop yesterday, 29 September 2021, welcoming nearly 50 members from across the globe! What initially started as eight countries quickly emerged into sixteen across 4 regions, over the course of just three months, and are identified as: Angola, Bolivia, Brazil, Ecuador, Jordan, Kenya, Lebanon, Mauritania, Morocco, Nepal, Palestine, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Vietnam, Zambia - with more to come! While dryland regions themselves are subject to desertification and other detrimental effects due to a rapidly changing climate, the role that women play in combatting and adapting to these changes is essential and must be heard. 

This two-hour workshop was lively and engaging, listening to champion voices from Ecuador and Bolivia to Mauritania and Nepal. Insights and perspectives were captured, suggestions were heard, and bonds were created. As the very first joint meeting amongst all current members, this workshop allowed everyone to learn who their peers are, introduce themselves, and begin analysing commonalities. 

Opening remarks were heard by Fidaa Haddad, Dryland Forestry Officer, Forestry Division, FAO, who warmly welcomed all members and explained the purpose of the meeting. As WeCaN is a co-founded initiative between both the Forestry and South-South and Triangular Cooperation Divisions at FAO, Irina Curca, Programme Officer, South-South and Triangular Cooperation Division, FAO highlighted the importance of this community to enhance knowledge sharing, capacity building, and advocacy strengthening within the South-South. Ease of information flow, consensus-based approaches, and partnership allow the dissemination of knowledge related to women’s practices in dryland regions to develop, foster, and grow. The South-South Cooperation’s Gateway allows just that - the space, resources, and support which women in dryland regions need to further spread their knowledge and skills. 

Next, the audience heard from the WeCaN Coordinator herself, Lucia Gerbaldo, Forestry Division, FAO, who presented the background information and structure of what exactly WeCaN is and aims to do. This newfound community of practice not only aims to: 1) collect and disseminate best practices, lessons learned and innovative women’s empowerment processes across dryland regions, but also to; 2) increase knowledge about women's contributions and active roles in natural resources management; 3) strengthen the capacities of its members by providing gender and advocacy skills and competences trainings; and 4) speed up policy processes by creating synergies and proposals around common advocacy challenges. Shortly thereafter, all members were divided into breakout rooms, facilitated with the help of Mauro Bottaro, Gender Mainstreaming and Human Rights Specialist, Forestry Division, FAO for our French-speaking members, and Andrea SanchezEnciso, Gender Specialist, Inclusive Rural Transformation and Gender Equality Division, FAO for those who spoke Spanish. Rooms in both English and Portuguese welcomed the rest of the WeCaN members. 

Within the four breakout rooms, members were able to present their ideas, discuss challenges, and determine ways to overcome these obstacles through a SWOT Analysis. The SWOT Analysis allows participants to analyse their strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. While this process will indeed require more time, the workshop yesterday allowed WeCaN members to start brainstorming and connect with others who face similarities. Following the exercise, members joined together for an overview discussion.  

Members from Brazil commented:“Há um grande caráter de unicidades nessas experiências de empoderamento das mulheres e o importante è filtrar o que pode ser úteis aos outros e  transmiti-lo, porque esses trabalhos interessantes de empoderamento das mulheres devem ser compartilhados e divulgados [in English: There is a great character of uniqueness in these women empowerment processes and the crucial component is to filter what can be useful to others and transmit it, because these women empowerment experiences must be shared and disseminated].” 

In the end, our first WeCaN workshop ended as a success. Women left feeling empowered, connected, and ready to accept this new challenge. Going forward, the interaction between global members will continue, fostering innovative processes, upscaling best practices, and establishing a network amongst South-South women in dryland regions. Many of the participants shared their enthusiasm and eagerness to continue expanding the network and are preparing to meet for a second time around in the end of October.