SLUNCF and Cuso International Advance Gender Equity Through CORE Project

Castries, Saint Lucia – July 30, 2024 – In a significant move to integrate gender equity into conservation efforts, the Saint Lucia National Conservation Fund (SLUNCF), in partnership with Cuso International, launched the first-ever gender equity training session under the Caribbean Organizations for a Resilient Environment (CORE) project for environmental and women’s rights organizations.

The training was designed to equip SLUNCF and its local partners with knowledge and tools to incorporate gender equity into their projects. Participants learned about human rights and new approaches to project implementation, with a focus on policy, gender, and capacity building. The session also covered SLUNCF’s investment strategies, community-based projects, and grant-awarding protocols.

Although this was the first gender equity training under the CORE project, it achieved significant success:

• 94% of participants were satisfied with the session, especially the discussions on gender analysis and equity markers.
• 100% of attendees reported a deeper understanding of gender mainstreaming and expressed interest in future sessions.
• Engaging discussions and hands-on activities helped participants see how gender equity connects with environmental work.

Beverley Corinaldi, a Cuso International volunteer, reflected on the significance of the training. “It was such a rewarding experience discussing human rights and transformative approaches contributing to gender equity, alleviating poverty, understanding power dynamics and drivers of inequity, and the role of grassroots, community-based organizations to effect change,” Corinaldi said.

The event brought together SLUNCF’s grant awardees and participants. At the end of the training, the participants not only felt empowered, but also looked forward to continuing working together on gender-focused environmental projects.

As Craig Henry, CEO of SLUNCF, emphasized the importance of collaboration in advancing inclusive conservation efforts, the training successfully attracted community-based organizations. It also paved the way for future collaboration with underserved and vulnerable communities in Saint Lucia.

“The session provided an excellent opportunity to share and emphasize the need for collaborations and partnership required to work towards operationalizing a ‘no one left behind’ framework through our policies and actions,” said Henry.