2024-09-09 12:18:28 UTC

The mere fact that we are able to collectively work, connect, and network is a key positive achievement.

The MENA-WGC Charter is a core step to formalizing the MENA Feminist Taskforce and transforming ourselves from a Taskforce to MENA-WGC.

We are now being contacted and reached out to by organizations in the region.

COP28 reflection and achievements:

Press release
Launch of the MENA Women's & Girls' Demands for COP28 and Beyond
Side-event

The process of formalizing the MENA-WGC.

Intergenerational cooperation has been strong.

Learned from Africa WGC's experience, including the charter and elections.

Helps organization members: build capacities, integrate more, bring to the table the climate and conflict nexus, helped NGOs get observer status. Positive impact on organization and individual level. A good space for connection and support.

Important: the intersectionality of issues and build collaborations across network such as MENAFEM's blogs (Dr. Fatma with MENAFEM) and FEMNET school.

We need to discuss how to move forward on strategy.

Next steps:

2-pager on our asks and demands (work together) on different pieces: climate finance, PayUp, NCQG. Formalize ourselves around this. Ask for specific issues, there are many paths and we all work in different working groups. We need to strategize and coordinate, also by issue area.

MENAFEM capacity building on climate finance.

Formalize our position to develop the pager to send to negotiators.

Are our demands still aligned with COP29? Do they need to be updated?

Discussion on the demands: still very relevant, conflicts still ongoing.

Highlight our demands, focusing on regional lens.

Next steps: highlight urgency of the situation, work on evidence-based advocacy from the demands we already have.

In the strategy: there is a divorce/separation between governments and civil society, youth, trade unions. So, our perspectives are not included in negotiations.

In our activities and plan, how can we get stronger and focus on holding govs and negotiators/blocs accountable to civil society's demands, asks, and priorities.

Work and coordinate on regional advocacy,

2024-09-09 12:27:26 UTC

Two proposed ways forward:

1) general 2-pager overview of demands and asks + a 1-2 pager by thematic area (decided by us - MENA)

2) 1-2 pager of demands and asks by each specific thematic and issue area as decided by us

MENA: What has worked particularly well since the regionalization process for your caucus? Are there any significant achievements or positive impact that you can note as a result of the formation of your caucus? Can you note down 3-5 key achievements from your particular focus year? by Focal Point