Gendering Environment and Climate Change in the Economic Community of West African States & the East African Community: Why Representation Matters

Abstract

The heightened prospect of a “rising Africa” stems from multiple developments across the continent. Technological innovation, economic empowerment, increasing female leadership, and more continue to raise the fortunes of African countries. As regional economic communities engage with Agenda 2063, an ambitious endeavor to support and sustain economic development, a gendering environment is pivotal to any ensuing progress. Using the case studies of two regional organizations, our research examines the pace of political representation of women in relevant environmental committees in the Economic Community of West African States and the East African Community. In an epoch where women constitute half of the continent, the case for female representation to combat ecological challenges propelled by the securitization of environmental issues is paramount.

A Survey of the Geographic Area, Altitude, Coastline, and Climate of African Countries and Regions: Implications for Africa’s Development

“…This study has illustrated that the continent of Africa has many important advantages as it relates to its current and future development. The continent has abundant land that can be utilized for agriculture to produce food to feed itself and not depend on the importation of food, which costs substantially more (Kaba, 2006a;Sackeyfio and Kaba, 2022). It also has the strategic minerals and related natural resources needed for its development whereby it does not have to go abroad for the natural resources needed for its development (Kaba, 2004(Kaba, , 2024.…”

“…Africa has large deposits of all types of natural resources and massive amounts of fertile lands, yet the continent remains relatively poor. It is the continent at the greatest risks of disease epidemics yet was the least impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic in terms of infections and deaths (Kaba, 2006a(Kaba, , 2007abc, 2014(Kaba, , 2020(Kaba, , 2024Mazrui and Kaba, 2016;Kaba and Kaba, 2020;Sackeyfio and Kaba, 2022).…”