Sunita Dubey, GEAPP’s country delivery lead for Vietnam

The network was publicly introduced at the ‘Women in the Green Economy’ event on April 12 hosted by the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet (GEAPP), alongside the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, and the United States Agency for International Development. This event underscored Vietnam’s exemplary achievements in fostering women’s participation in the workforce and political spheres, well above global averages, as a cornerstone for driving the country's climate strategy.

Vietnam’s impressive female workforce participation rate, which exceeds 70 per cent, alongside a significant 30.26 per cent of women in parliament, outpacing the global average of 25.5 per cent, serves as a testament to the nation’s commitment to gender equality.

However, despite these achievements, women’s representation in the highest echelons of business leadership and ownership still lags, with only 26.5 per cent of such positions being held by women. This discrepancy underscores a crucial area of potential growth and impact in the context of Vietnam's green economic transition and climate resilience efforts.

The CLN is dedicated to elevating women's roles in climate action, informing stakeholders about Vietnam's climate challenges and the gender-climate connection, and encouraging emerging female leaders in the environmental sector.

Sarah Twigg, IFC's lead for gender and economic inclusion in East Asia Pacific, detailed the importance of this initiative, stating, “Vietnam stands at the forefront of integrating gender equality with climate action. IFC, through initiatives like the CLN, aims to transform this existing foundation into a dynamic force for environmental and economic resilience. IFC is committed to driving investments in ways that advance climate solutions, and we recognise that women’s leadership is central to this ambition.”

Sunita Dubey, GEAPP’s country delivery lead for Vietnam, offered a complementary perspective, “The establishment of the CLN signifies breaking new ground in the environmental sector by addressing the under-representation of women in leadership roles. Our approach leverages Vietnam's achievements in gender equality as a model for creating innovative and inclusive climate strategies. By focusing on gender-smart solutions, GEAPP aims to inspire systemic change that benefits both the planet and its people.”

The event celebrated the role of women in leading climate action, and also set a blueprint for future initiatives aimed at enhancing their impact in green sectors. It highlighted the need for policies that support women’s entrepreneurship and leadership in the green economy, acknowledging the pivotal role that gender equality plays in achieving comprehensive climate goals.

Through the CLN, IFC, GEAPP and partners are seeking to increase the representation of women in leadership across Vietnam’s key economic sectors, and to empower them to play a decisive role in shaping the nation’s climate policies and actions. By facilitating dialogue, sharing best practices, and providing support for women leaders and entrepreneurs, the network aims to build a resilient and inclusive green economy.