In the Philippines, the Gender and Development (GAD) Fund of local governments has been criticized by some as a cookie jar, which might be used for any unfunded project. The Women and Earth Initiative (WORTH) in the Philippines seeks to engage local development planners in innovative and efficient strategies in using their gender funds, so they can not only empower men, women and the youth, but also help them respond to climate change.

“If we contextualize in terms of disaster and climate change, by examination, a large percentage of victims or affected by climate change (are women). So I am looking at it in terms of inclusivity. Hoping that during planning, more focus would be given to the vulnerable population including women. Do they become part of the planning process? So we hope that if the planning mainstreaming will be done here, it will be inclusive like in the case of bottom-up planning so that we can come up with a realistic plan which genuinely addresses the problems on the ground and the people that are really affected by climate change.” – Dr. Socorro Flores, Municipal Health Officer, Guiuan, Eastern Samar

In the project site of Guiuan, Eastern Samar, local development planners will gather field photos showing stories of men, women and the youth adapting to the impacts of climate change. The discussions from the stories will serve as the foundation of programs and activities in their gender and development (GAD) plan and an added value to enhance the social sector as a system of interest in the municipality’s climate change adaptation framework (CCAF).