Tiếng ViệtOn the afternoon of June 17, 2025, the Center for Environment and Community Research (CECR), in collaboration with UN Women, UNEP, and the Technical Working Group on Gender and Climate Change (TWG), successfully organized the dialogue “Women Waste Pickers and Climate Change Adaptation.” The event served not only as a space for connection but also as a platform where real stories and real needs could be heard and discussed.
Group photo of experts and participants attending the dialogue
In her opening remarks, Ms. Athena Denise Galao, Team Leader for Disaster Risk Reduction, Climate Change and Humanitarian Action, UN Women Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific, and Ms. Parimita Mohanti, Project Manager of the Empower Project, United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), reaffirmed the critical role of women in the recycling value chain and in efforts to adapt to the impacts of climate change.
Following this, Ms. Doan Bao Han, representative of CECR, introduced WAZNET, a greenhouse gas measurement application designed to support households, especially women waste pickers, in recording, sorting, and tracking waste volumes that contribute to emission reductions. She also shared insights into the app’s development process, which was closely linked to practical needs, as well as initial feedback from users.
The dialogue also provided an opportunity for waste pickers to directly share the challenges they face in accessing technology, as well as their needs for healthcare support and occupational safety equipment while working under harsh and extreme weather conditions. Addressing health-related issues, Ms. Hoang Tu Anh from the Center for Creative Initiatives in Health and Population (CCIHP) delivered a presentation on healthcare support, particularly reproductive healthcare for women, while integrating communication on climate adaptation and the prevention of gender-based violence.
The open discussion session attracted active participation from delegates. Participants engaged in lively discussions on activities to strengthen the capacity and position of vulnerable groups, particularly women waste pickers; highlighted the strengths of WAZNET; and explored approaches for scaling up, updating, and expanding the application in the future.
Open discussion session during the dialogue
At the conclusion of the dialogue, all parties agreed to continue piloting, testing, and scaling up the greenhouse gas measurement application in the field. They also reaffirmed their commitment to maintaining integrated initiatives that support the health, livelihoods, and environmental well-being of women waste pickers. The collaboration is expected to extend beyond a single dialogue event, creating opportunities for long-term partnerships to promote gender equality in the context of the climate crisis.
