Dryland women in climate diplomacy: Building skills, raising voices at COP 30

Strengthening women’s leadership ahead of COP 30

As the world intensifies efforts to address the climate crisis, one truth stands out: women, especially those from climate-vulnerable regions, must be central to decision-making processes. Strengthening women’s leadership in global climate governance is not only a matter of fairness; it is essential for shaping solutions that work for all. Capacity-building programmes before, during and after COPs play a critical role by equipping women with the knowledge, negotiation skills and confidence needed to engage meaningfully where global climate policies are made.

In the lead-up to the 30th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP 30) (10-21 November 2025, Belém, Brazil), women leaders from dryland regions participated in a six-week online training programme to unpack the UNFCCC process, the content of the Gender Action Plan (GAP), and specific entry points for women from drylands and pastoralist communities to integrate ecosystem-based adaptation priorities into international negotiations. 

Developed by the Kaschak Institute for Social Justice at Binghamton University, WOCAT at the University of Bern, and the WeCaN community of Practice, under the Ecosystem Based Adaptation Fundby IUCN, the programme benfitted over 40 WeCaN members, among others.

Bringing dryland perspective to COP 30

These preparations translated into concrete leadership during COP30. Moroccan youth climate advocate Ms Kenza Benmoussa delivered an opening statement on behalf of the WeCaN Network, calling for meaningful inclusion of women and girls from dryland regions in future UNFCCC and UNCCD negotiations. Reflecting on her experience, she noted: “The training provided  me with the skills and confidence to step into COP negotiations as an active participant, not just an observer. I learned how to lobby effectively, approach delegates, build alliances, and ensure that our community’s priorities were reflected in the text. Seeing our voices heard on the ground showed the true power of capacity building for women leaders.”

From Brazil, Ms Fernanda Monteiro of the University of São Paulo highlighted how the training and participation in COP 30 opened new doors for advocacy on drylands and gender. “I gained a clear understanding of how the UNFCCC COP works and how to carry out international advocacy,” she said. By engaging in side events, she  built new alliances with civil society organizations and joined a network of pastoralists working in dryland contexts in South America.

This engagement also contributed to greater visibility of drylands and gender issues within Brazil’s climate agenda and supported efforts to prepare dryland pastoralist communities for participation in the next UNCCD COP. From East Africa, Ms Sarah Pima, a Tanzanian negotiator, helped raise the profile of women in dryland regions within climate diplomacy. She contributed to boht the official negotiations and to side events, including “Women in Dryland Regions: Contributions to Sustainable Natural Resource Management.”

The impact of the pre-COP30 training was evident in the exit survey. After six weeks of intensive learning, the majority of participants reported feeling “very confident’’ in using and explaining the GAP” and “very strong’’ in their understanding the COP 30 process.” This shift from uncertainty to confidence demonstrates the effectiveness of targeted capacity building in preparing women to engage meaninfully in global climate fora.

COP 30 ultimately demonstrated that when women from dryland regions are equipped and supported to participate fully in climate diplomacy, the benefits extend far beyond the conference venue. They build new alliances, influence national agendas, and open space for groups that have long been excluded, such as pastoralist peoples in Brazil, to shape climate and land policies that affect their lives and territories.

Women of the drylands are not just beneficiaries of climate policies; they are political actors, negotiators and movement-builders. 

When they have the tools, opportunities and support to lead, their contributions make a lasting difference where it matters most.

Author: Lucia Gerbaldo, Gender Expert and WeCaN Initiative Coordinator