At the Mitigation Action Facility, we believe that ambitious climate action and social justice must go hand in hand. With gender equality and social inclusion (GESI) as a cross-cutting priority, we are proud to launch our first comprehensive GESI Analysis – a milestone that deepens our commitment to transformative and inclusive climate solutions.
What is the GESI Analysis?
The GESI Analysis provides a deep dive into how gender and social inclusion intersect with the Facility’s three priority sectors – energy, transport, and industry – as well as the critical area of business and access to finance. It explores systemic barriers, highlights opportunities for gender-responsive action, and offers concrete entry points for project implementers and policymakers alike.
The Analysis draws on an in-depth literature review, complemented by interviews with sector experts and experienced practitioners, to capture both evidence-based insights and lived implementation realities. Together with lessons from Facility-funded projects and emerging best practices, the global GESI Analysis offers a robust knowledge base to strengthen the design, implementation, and impact of inclusive mitigation projects.
How to use the GESI Analysis
The Facility’s GESI Analysis is a practical resource to support Applicants, particularly during Detailed Preparation Phase (DPP), by offering insights into common challenges and opportunities in their sector of implementation It identifies actionable entry points to foster gender-responsive and inclusive project design.
Applicants are encouraged to consult the chapter relevant to their project‘s sector – energy, industry, transport – as well as the section on access to finance and business. The practitioner-oriented entry points at the end of each chapter are particularly useful for integrating GESI considerations into project planning and implementation. We warmly invite everyone to explore the full document to make the most of the trends, challenges, and opportunities identified for designing more inclusive and impactful projects.
It is important to note, however, that the Analysis does not replace a context-specific risk assessment or an individual project’s own GESI analysis. The relevance of the global GESI Analysis findings must be assessed within their specific country and project context.
Why this matters
Inclusive climate action requires understanding how gender and social factors shape people’s experiences, access to resources, and opportunities to engage in climate solutions. Across all sectors, the GESI Analysis reveals persistent disparities – and identifies ways the Facility and its partners can help close these gaps.
Some takeaways include:
- Transport systems are not gender-neutral: Women often rely on off-peak and multi-stop journeys for caregiving, errands, and work. Designing transport around these needs can reduce time poverty and unlock social and economic participation.
- Climate finance falls short on gender equity: Only 1.5% of global climate finance directly targets gender equality. Inclusive mechanisms – such as women-led self-help groups – offer solutions but need structural backing to scale.
- Energy access and infrastructure impact different communities unequally: Large-scale energy projects can disproportionately affect Indigenous minorities and other marginalised groups through land-use changes and resettlement pressures. Ensuring inclusive planning processes and safeguarding rights is critical for an equitable and sustainable energy transition.
- Underrepresentation in green jobs persists: Women remain a minority in technical and leadership roles across all priority sectors of the Facility. Without targeted training and inclusive policies, the green transition risks reinforcing old inequalities.
Moving from insight to impact
The GESI Analysis is more than a knowledge product – it is a call to action. It supports project implementers in identifying GESI entry points within their specific contexts and encourages all stakeholders to approach climate mitigation through an inclusive lens.
To support uptake of the findings, the Technical Support Unit (TSU) will continue to offer tailored guidance, facilitate capacity building, and promote peer learning through workshops and pilot activities.
Explore the Full GESI Analysis
By embedding GESI into every stage of our work – from project design to policy dialogue – we strive to build climate solutions that are not only sustainable, but also equitable.
To learn more about how the Mitigation Action Facility is advancing gender equality and social inclusion in climate action, explore our GESI Factsheet, subscribe to our newsletter and follow us on social media (LinkedIn, Instagram, BlueSky).