KIGALI - The Minister of Natural Resource has said women can be good promoters of the environment because of the lessons learned through generations.

Stanislas Kamanzi said this Thursday during the 2008 UNDP retreat on Global Gender Equality held at Serena Kigali Hotel.

He gave examples of some influential economic sectors in which women have a major role such as agriculture, energy and water.

"Due to their role, women are responsible for productive activities the home, procuring materials for daily consumption and attending to most of the domestic chores," Kamanzi explained to the participants of the retreat

He said that women have a bigger role in environmental promotion than their male partners, particularly in rural ecosystems, because of their resource-based socio-economic activities.

Kamanzi added that women who deal most with the environment are the worst affected by climate change.

Aurélien Agbénonci, the UN Resident Coordinator, said that gender, environment and sustainable development, which was tackled in the retreat, is an important and timely topic.

He pointed out that the links between gender equality, environment and sustainable development have for a long time been recognised, yet they are still under-explored.

He added that the forum would provide ample opportunity for assessing the links and practical ways to address both issues.

"I believe that UNDP has chosen an appropriate country in which to host this kind of discussion. I have noticed from my very few days in the country that this is a topic that is well articulated in the country’s medium term development strategy, the Economic Development and Poverty Reduction Strategy (EDPRS)," Agbénonci said.

He went on to say that Rwanda has determination and strong commitment to solve the environmental challenges it faces.

"What is more interesting is the equally strong commitment the country demonstrates with regard to gender equality and women empowerment," went on the UN diplomat.

He referred to the fact that no other country in the world holds the same record on women’s representation in decision making positions within government.

"By taking the issues of gender and environment seriously, we have a sound basis for ensuring a unified and coherent approach that touches at the heart of inequality and vulnerability in Africa," Agbénonci said.

He ended by saying that there was need to apply the unified perspective, and understand on how the funds can reach out further down to the lowest level of development actors, where gender inequality and environmental degradation tend to have the most serious impact.

Ends