Voices of Change: Gender and Climate Resilience

Organised by the IAWRT-India Chapter in collaboration with FES

Day 1 | 6th March 2025, Thursday | 09:30 AM – 5:30 PM
Conference Room 2, IIC, Delhi

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The 20th edition of the Asian Women’s Film Festival will feature a special one-day event titled “Voices of Change: Gender and Climate Resilience.” This event, organised by the IAWRT-India Chapter in collaboration with Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES), aims to provide a platform for discussions on the intersection of gender and climate resilience. By integrating expert dialogues and interactive sessions, the program will empower participants to explore the challenges of climate change from a gendered perspective while highlighting communications-led solutions that foster resilience and equity.

Expected Outcomes:

·  Strengthening gender-inclusive climate advocacy.

·  Creating an understanding on media and storytelling among participants.

·  Building networks between climate experts and gender activists 

·  Promoting youth engagement in climate resilience initiatives.

As part of this initiative, IAWRT-India has issued a Call for Short AVs (3–4 minutes) on the themes of Climate Change, Climate Action, and Gender. This call is open to college and university students across India and was announced on February 17, 2025. Entries will be accepted until 11 PM, March 03, 2025, and a selection committee will review submissions to identify impactful narratives. The three best AVs will receive awards, and all selected AV entries will receive Certificates of Appreciation.

Programme Flow

09:30 AM: Registration

10:00 AM – 11:00 AM: Opening Session 

• Welcome remarks – Mausumi Bhattacharyya, IAWRT-India
• Introductory remarks – Mandvi Kulshreshtha, Senior Program Adviser, Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES), India office
• Announcement on FES’s Exhibition on “Gender and Climate Change”
• Opening Address: Understanding Climate Resilience and Gendered Vulnerabilities

• Building climate resilience with a focus on women and marginalised genders – Aditi Kapoor, Alternative Futures 
• Gender transformative communication for climate resilience – Dr Budhaditya Das, Faculty, School of Human Ecology, Dr B R Ambedkar University, New Delhi

11:00 AM – 11:30 AM: Tea Break

11:30 AM – 1:00 PM: Panel Discussion – Voices of Change 

This session will explore the intersection of climate change and gender disparities, focusing on challenges and communication-led solutions.

• Role of communications in advocating for climate justice – Pooja Iyenger, Bhopal
• Youth and community participation in climate resilience –Apratim Bhattacharya, Research Scholar, Visva-Bharati, Santiniketan, WB and Sulagna Maitra, Ashoka University, Sonipat
• How to shape gender-responsive climate policies – Shveta Mathur / Rwitee Mandal
• Real-world scenarios and actions for climate resilience – Anand Pendharkar 

Moderator: Madhumanti Sengupta, Program Manager, Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES), India office

1:00 PM – 2:00 PM: Lunch Break

2:00 PM – 4:00 PM: World Café: Media and Storytelling for Climate Advocacy

A participatory session where attendees break into four groups to engage in focused discussions on a key theme. Four tables, each table representing one sub-theme. Participants to divide themselves amongst these tables. Four rounds of 20 mins each. Participants begin with one sub-theme / table and at the end of each round, shift to another sub-theme/table. The tables should build on the insights from the previous round. The last session should focus on climate advocacy measures.

• Table 1: Stakeholders and their currency
• Table 2: Processes and Institutional Set Up
• Table 3: Ensuring Gender Justice and Equity
• Table 4: Crafting Narratives of Change

Table hosts: IAWRT and FES team

4:00 PM – 4:30 PM: Tea Break

4:30 PM – 5:30 PM: Closing Session

• Presentation of Key Takeaways from the World Café discussions by Table Hosts
• Announcement of the Top 3 AV Entries and screening
• Closing Panel Discussion – Recommendations & Future Pathways

• Ways to strengthen “voices of change” for policy advocacy – Gayatri Sharma, Program Adviser, Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES), India office
• Advancing inclusive narratives from National to Regional to Global level– Ananya Chakraborti, Former Treasurer, International Board, IAWRT

Vote of Thanks – Anurag Shanker, Program Manager, Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES), India office

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