COP27. Climate Action Frontiers: Leading the Change for Women in Agricultural Value Chains

This event will highlight how Kenya is amongst the leading countries on the African continent embracing biotechnology and applying frontier innovations to increase agricultural productivity and improve food systems. Since women are at the frontlines of agriculture and face head on the challenges of climate change, the event will focus on climate actions, which are gender sensitive or have greatest potential to positively impact the lives of women. We believe that the world cannot prosper if women suffer and this event will showcase some of the inspirational work by the First Lady of Kenya, a Climate Action Champion, supporting a national network of female led organisations, empowering thousands of women who have mobilised significant resources to transform lives and communities in under a decade. 

This side event will also examine the fragilities in African agriculture and food systems which lead to dependencies on food aid and disaster relief, it will highlight outstanding frontier technology innovations with the greatest potential for accelerating change, policy initiatives to support stakeholders, including farmers, to make informed choices on agricultural biotechnology in Africa and to science communications campaigns to create an enabling environment for science-based solutions to global challenges.

• Venue: Mixture of in-person and virtual. Panelists will be on stage and questions will be taken from both live and virtual participants.
• Format: A Keynote Speech from the First Lady of Kenya, followed by a Q & A. Then a short introductory video(2-3mins) on the session theme, followed a discussion with 4-person panel, moderated by Dr Sheila Ochugboju, that takes place for 75-90 minutes. Closing remarks will be given by a Senior UN Official Opening remarks: Dr Youssef Nasser, Director, Adaptation, UNFCCC (TBC)
• Keynote Speaker: H. E. Mrs Rachel Ruto, First lady of Kenya. Founder of Mama Doing Good
• Foundation
• Panelists:
  • Mr Philip Thigo, Senior Director for Africa, Thunderbird School of Global Management.
  • Mr Vitumbiko Chinoko, Program Manager, Open Forum for Biotechnology (OFAB)
  • Dr Asha Mohammed Addulrahim, Secretary General, Kenya Red Cross (TBC)
  • Dr Tasila Banda, Founding Member, Network of African Women Environmentalists
  • (NAWE)
  • Dr Rose Mwebeza, Director, Climate Technology Centre and Network (CTCN)
• Closing Remarks: Ms Ahunna Eziakonwa, UNDP Assistant Administrator, Assistant Secretary
• General and Director of the Regional Bureau for Africa