adelphi’s dedication to gender equality and environmental protection

adelphi has been working on gender-transformative approaches in the areas of climate, energy, biodiversity and water on behalf of the GIZ sector project "Promotion of Gender Equality". With the BMZ aiming to allocate 93% of newly committed project funds to gender equality initiatives by 2025, adelphi offers guidance through an orientation paper to integrate feminist perspectives into environmental and climate policy.

The COVID-19 pandemic has harmed the global economy, yet women in particular have suffered greatly from its consequences. The Asian Development Bank is supporting selected women-led micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) in designing circular economy and capacity development in China and Mongolia. adelphi is part of the technical assistance team, collaborating with other project partners to offer women and women-led SMEs the opportunities to focus on an environmentally friendly and economic recovery. 

Female entrepreneurship and women's empowerment

The Global South is particularly affected by the consequences of climate change, exacerbating existing inequalities. Due to their limited access to education and resources, and restricted participation in value chains, women are among the most vulnerable groups. The active promotion of gender equality by companies strengthens operational resilience and the capacity of employees and customers to adapt to the consequences of climate change. adelphi’s support in projects like "Private Adaptation Finance Gender Training" in Kenya and Nigeria underscores its commitment to fostering gender equality. Workshops focus on establishing gender-equitable business practices for small and medium-sized enterprises, promoting inclusion and diversity, and developing products and services aligned with the needs of women and girls.

The need for more diverse representation in management positions is no longer a secret. In waste management, for instance, women work in important but often underestimated areas such as material collection, sorting and recycling. In contrast, men dominate areas such as eco-design, urban planning and technology-related professions. Despite being displaced from the labor market, women in household and community roles increasingly focus on responsible consumption and waste management. They also tend to make more sustainably sensitive choices. Still, they are often excluded from important decision-making processes. In a study conducted and published on behalf of GIZ, entitled "Circular economy in Kosovo", adelphi investigated how entrepreneurship in the field of plastic product reuse could empower women into more significant roles and how their voice could be used for the benefit of society.