Antigua and Barbuda pushes for gender-sensitive climate action at UN Forum

NEW YORK, 14th March, 2026…Director of the Directorate of Gender Affairs Jamie Saunders

has delivered a compelling case before a United Nations meeting for gender equality to be fully

aligned with the ambitions of climate finance.

Saunders is a senior member of the delegation that represented Antigua and Barbuda at the 70th

session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW). As countries like Small Island

Developing States (SIDS) especially, push for greater ambition on climate finance, Saunders stressed

that climate change is not gender neutral.

He made the point during a side event featuring a prestigious panel of speakers on Advancing

Climate Justice through Gender-Responsive Climate Finance. He used the opportunity to outline

the government’s policy on this very issue and shared his views on how inclusive climate financing

can serve as a powerful tool in advancing gender equality.

“Women—particularly rural women, single-parent households, and women in informal economic

sectors—often experience disproportionate impacts and face greater barriers in accessing resources,

financing, and decision-making,” he pointed out.

Citing a broad range of examples as to what needs to be done, he pointed to the standout initiatives

where Antigua and Barbuda is demonstrating leadership in advancing climate justice through the

principle of gender-responsible climate finance.

He stated gender responsiveness is integrated into the country’s climate governance architecture and

its updated Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) as a matter of policy. This means that a

number of goals are prioritized to include increasing the number of women-led businesses

implementing renewable energy and climate adaptation solutions, supporting women’s economicrecovery following extreme weather events, and promoting a gender-responsive transition in

traditionally male-dominated sectors such as energy and construction.

He cited the adoption of the Sustainable Island Resource Framework Fund (SIRF Fund),

established through the country’s Environmental Protection and Management Act (2019) and

administered by the Department of Environment of Antigua and Barbuda as another relevant

example.

“Through mechanisms such as its blended finance window, the fund helps expand access to

climate-related investment for women-led businesses and enterprises, ensuring women are not

only beneficiaries but also drivers of climate solutions,” Saunders explained.

While contributing to the discussions, Saunders further detailed other initiatives that he said were

advancing gender-responsive climate action in strengthening community resilience, support

women’s leadership in agriculture and climate adaptation, and expand training and outreach across

vulnerable communities.

Meantime, Minister of State in the Ministry of Works and Housing and Leader of Government

Business in the Senate, the Hon. Shenella Govia, described her participation in CSW80 as a truly

moving and rewarding experience. She noted it was important for Antigua and Barbuda to stand

alongside other nations in sharing progress and collectively seeking solutions to accelerate the

advancement of gender equality.

“This only reinforces the importance of working together to advance gender equality for women and

girls everywhere. I am especially proud of our delegation whose active participation in the

discussions will help inform and strengthen our policies and initiatives in Antigua and Barbuda.”

The other members of the delegation that participated in the conference were Minister of Social and

Urban Transformation the Hon. Rawdon Turner, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Social and

Urban Transformation Sarah Stuart, Project Officer of the Directorate of Gender Affairs Ashlea

Ambris.

Advertise with the mоѕt vіѕіtеd nеwѕ ѕіtе іn Antigua!
We offer fully customizable and flexible digital marketing packages.
Contact us at [email protected]