Women Sustainability Forum 2018

in partnership with

Theme: Women Capacity-building for Sustainable Developmen

Location: Lusaka, Zambia

The WSF18 discussed a global concern pertaining to global sustainability research and education agendas and their real-life effectiveness for women. Yet there are many unanswered questions in this area. WSF18 increased our understanding of these questions and how they can be addressed. The Forum turned into a consultation workshop aimed to discuss  priority women capacity-building areas for education for sustainable development. It also showed that improving identified areas seems to be the most effective way to enhance the ability of local communities to cope with pressing global sustainability challenges over time. This forum  paid nuanced attention to the nature and importance of women capacity-building for fostering the Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG 4) quality education in the pursuit of sustainable development.

Session 1:  Community Capacity Building for Sustainable Development: A Gender Lens Approach

Purpose

Although the value of community capacity building is widely accepted, these initiatives thus far appear to have achieved very little impact in the achievement of community development aspirations. This paper aims to increase knowledge regarding specific priority areas which when targeted will result in more effective pathways towards sustainable development.

Design/methodology/approach

This study session was performed through utilization of a qualitative strategy, which involved the combination of a number of qualitative methods and techniques including surveys and focus groups

Findings

The investigation found that improving identified community capacity-building for sustainable development priority areas, aligned with the sustainable development goals (SDGs), seems to be the most effective strategy to enhance the ability of local communities and women to overcome sustainability challenges over time. SDGs 9, 4, 15, 16, 17 and 8 were identified as the areas of greatest significance for practical community capacity building for sustainable development in the Zambian case.

Sponsors and partners of WSF

  • ​Japan Society for the Promotion of Science
  • eWisely Zambia 
  • University of Zambia, School of Education
  • Local Government Representatives

Find out more about findings from WSF 2018