Despite their significant contributions, women remain underrepresented in the climate change space. Barriers such as limited access to opportunities, professional networks, and leadership positions hinder their full participation in climate action and green growth sectors.

The Women in Climate Change Mentorship Program offers a unique platform to bring together like-minded professionals who are passionate about climate action. By fostering mentorship, knowledge-sharing, and career development, the program aims to inspire, guide, and empower more women to take leadership roles in climate resilience, sustainability, and green growth.

The 2025 mentorship program is proposed to run for 8 months from May up to December 2025 with the objectives to:

• Foster knowledge sharing and collaboration between experienced climate leaders and mentees.
• Build a strong network of women professionals committed to driving climate resilience and sustainability.
• Enhance participants’ professional skills to support professional and personal growth.

1. One-on-one mentorship

A curated list of mentors will be developed, allowing mentees to express interest in specific mentors. A prescreening exercise will shortlist up to five candidates per mentor, from which the mentor will select one or two mentees based on career interests and aspirations.

1. Green growth learning trip

A multi-stop educational trip will be organized within the Greater Kampala Metropolitan Area to expose participants to green growth interventions in various sectors such as agriculture, forestry, buildings, energy, water, transport, waste management, and tourism. The trip will provide firsthand experience with sustainable projects, innovative practices, and real-world climate solutions.

A detailed brochure will be developed to provide background information, context, and objectives for each project visited. After the trip, participants will complete an assessment form to share lessons learned and provide feedback on the experience.

1.  Capacity building workshop

An interactive workshop will be held to develop soft skills among participants. The session will be conducted in a hybrid model, with an emphasis on in-person participation to foster networking and collaboration. Participants will have the opportunity to vote on topics and propose additional areas of interest to ensure the workshops align with their professional needs. The intention is to have an in-house facilitator (from GGGI or GIZ). If the preferred topic lies outside our in-house capacity, then a budget could be allocated for an external facilitator. The proposed topics include:

• Project development and management
• Report writing and grant writing
• Public speaking and presentation skills
• Leadership and career development
• Conflict resolution and negotiation

1. Group/Project work

After the project development workshop, participants will be grouped into manageable teams and tasked with developing a green growth project in Uganda. This exercise will provide practical experience in project ideation and implementation while fostering teamwork and critical thinking. Throughout the mentorship period, mentees will engage in career discussions and project refinement sessions with mentors, receiving continuous guidance and feedback. At the close-out meeting, each group will present their project to all mentors, who will evaluate both the project idea and the presentation skills of the participants, offering constructive feedback for future development. This approach will ensure that participants gain valuable technical knowledge, hands-on experience, and professional skills to excel in climate action and sustainability. It will also foster peer learning and interdisciplinary collaboration.