PRIMA’s event at EU Green Week 2023 showcased numerous inspiring stories of women who have played pivotal roles in advancing environmental sustainability. The event emphasized the importance of empowering women, recognizing their expertise, and providing them with equal opportunities to participate in research, innovation, and policy-making processes.
One goal: promoting Gender Perspectives. Meet the experts:
The event underscored the significance of incorporating gender perspectives into environmental sustainability initiatives and R&I projects. PRIMA highlighted the need for inclusive approaches that consider the different needs, experiences, and knowledge of both men and women in addressing environmental challenges. Participants discussed strategies to mainstream gender perspectives in research projects, policy frameworks, and innovation processes, aiming to ensure that solutions are equitable, inclusive, and effective.
The webinar counted on the presence of the following experts and actors in the region:
5th June:
- Anna Dorangricchia (Programme manager Gender Equality, Social and Civil Affairs Division, UfM), underlined the importance of women’s involvement in the green transition and UfM’s role and actions in the region.
- Mohamed Wageih (Project officer, PRIMA), voicing up PRIMA’s vision to pave the way to a sustainable future and more inclusive Mediterranean region, underlining the role of women in R&I project
- Rouba Arja (Social Affair Officer, UN ESCWA) presented the challenges faced by women in Arab States (Download the presentation here)
- Hend Mgaeith (Outreach Coordinator, BUSINESSMED) put a spotlight on women in business, emphasizing their role as drivers for the green transition.
Watch the session here:
6th June:
- Anne Pépin (Senior Policy Officer, DG Research and Innovation, European Commission) started the 2nd day session with a keynote speech on why it is important to integrate a gender dimension in R&I projects, with a focus on the Horizon Europe and the EU policy context, providing concrete case and examples of successful projects and initiatives, such as Target, or Gender SMART.
Download the presentation here - Maroun El Moujabber (Senior Officer at CIHEAM Bari and Chair of the Scientific Advisory Committee of PRIMA), shared his valuable expertise from managing a Project on Gender Equality Plan and his involvement in the Global Service Facility, which assists the Directorate-General for Research & Innovation of the European Commission. He emphasized the critical importance of integrating gender-responsive approaches in sustainable agriculture and food systems as a fundamental driver of the green transition.
- Valentina Franchi (Gender expert, FAO) shared examples and success stories showcasing the crucial role of women and gender-diverse individuals in agricultural production, food security, and rural development
- Soukeina Bouraoui (Executive Director of the Center of Arab Women for Training and Research (CAWTAR) presented specific examples and cases showcasing the challenges faced by women in the region, detailing CAWTAR’s research, training initiatives, and recommendations from scientists on addressing these challenges and their policy implications, while also highlighting CAWTAR’s approach to ensuring the sustainability and long-term impact of their actions.
- Anna Dorangricchia (Programme manager Gender Equality, Social and Civil Affairs Division, UfM), provided an overview of supportive measures and resources for empowering women entrepreneurs in rural areas, particularly in green and sustainable initiatives, while highlighting specific examples of Union for the Mediterranean’s activities promoting gender equality and women’s empowerment in the agricultural sector.
Advancing Gender Responsive Research: Methods and Approaches
One of the objectives of the session was identifying potential biases and limitations in R&I projects, exploring gender-sensitive approaches in research design, and developing strategies for gender-inclusive data collection, analysis, and interpretation. For this, PRIMA gave the floor to the following expert:
- Nadine Zakhia-Rozis (CIRAD), Coordinator of the EU-funded Gender-SMART project, delved into the important aspects of conducting research with a gender-responsive lens, presenting the approach of the GENDER SMART project.
Download the presentation here - Enrica Caporali, (University of Florence), in charge of integrating the gender dimension into the PRIMA project NEXUS NESS, explained the methods and the project’s vision.
Download the presentation here
Learning from and Sharing Best Practices and Success Stories:
Inspiring examples were presented, showcasing the innovative work of women-led initiatives, research projects, and organizations that are driving positive change. These success stories demonstrated the transformative impact of empowering women and integrating gender perspectives in environmental sustainability efforts.
Meet the projects and access their presentations:
- Simona Mincione, coordinator of PRIMA “SwitchtoHealthy” project | Presentation available here
- Fernando Nardi, coordinator of PRIMA “Nexus-Ness” project | Presentation available here
- Kalliope Papadopoulou, coordinator of PRIMA “INTOMED” project | Presentation available here
- Oumaya Marzouk, coordinator of ENI CNC Med “RE-MED” project | Presentation available here
