This report outlines my participation in an international conference in Panama related to a project conducted in collaboration with the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) on Gender and Sand and Dust Storms (SDS). The conference took place at the Panama Convention Center in Panama City from 1 December to 5 December.
Purpose and Background of the Trip
The main purpose of the trip was to present and actively participate in an international conference focused on Sand and Dust Storms, an environmental hazard that remains under-recognized despite its significant global impacts. I and my teammates got an opportunity to present our findings at the Gender Caucus for a consultancy project we conducted, which was commissioned by UNCCD, between April and July. This project was a result of a course I attended, JM6-From Risk and Adaptation Research to Practice, which was supervised by Dr. Saskia Werners and Samira Pfeiffer from UNU-EHS. I attended the conference as a rapporteur of a four-member project team, with a specific focus on gathering further information on the gendered dimensions of Sand and Dust Storm impacts.
Arrival and Initial Engagements
I arrived in Panama City on Monday evening and joined the conference activities on Tuesday morning. The day began with a preparatory meeting with fellow presenters and panelists, including colleagues from Mali and Egypt who were our core participants from our project study areas, to coordinate our joint presentation.
Later that day, I attended a session dedicated to youth perspectives on Sand and Dust Storms. Delegates from various countries shared national experiences, illustrating how SDS travels long distances across regions. For example, Caribbean countries reported being affected by dust originating from the Sahara Desert in West Africa.
The session highlighted the health impacts of Sand and Dust Storms, including respiratory illnesses such as asthma, as well as reduced visibility that affects transportation. Additionally, participants discussed the negative consequences of SDS on agricultural productivity and how it affects community livelihoods including youth.
Presentation and Gender-Focused Engagements
On Wednesday, the day of our project presentation, I participated in a gender caucus focusing on indigenous women. Discussions emphasized the importance of including indigenous women in decision-making processes and recognizing their critical role in environmental protection. I contributed to the session as a rapporteur, documenting key messages and recommendations shared by participants from different countries.
Afterwards, our session followed. During our project session, my colleagues moderated the session and presented our findings as I gathered recommendations from multiple countries and delegations that contributed to our session such as Russia, Barbados, and UN Women representatives. These included the need to integrate children into Sand and Dust Storms related policies and practices, as well as the importance of supporting youth-led research to address existing knowledge gaps on Sand and Dust Storms.
Here we also learnt of how much Carribean countries are left out in world policy discussions on how they are essentially affected. Countries such as Barbados, Grenada and Carribbean, felt good to have spoken in the platform and heard by delegations.
Our presentation placed particular emphasis on how Sand and Dust Storms affect women and men differently in health, gender roles and livelihoods and highlighted the different adaptation and coping practices, underscoring the necessity of gender-responsive approaches in policy and practice.
Field Excursion and Environmental Learning
On Thursday, conference participants took part in a field excursion to the Panama Canal. The visit provided insights into the historical development and operational mechanisms of the canal. Observing large vessels transiting through the canal offered a practical understanding of its global economic and logistical importance.
The excursion also included a visit to a rainforest within Panama City, where we learned about environmental protection efforts and the importance of conserving natural ecosystems. This experience complemented the conference discussions by linking environmental governance with real-world conservation practices
Conclusion and Overall Reflection
The conference in Panama was a valuable academic and professional experience. It strengthened my understanding of Sand and Dust Storms as a global environmental challenge and reinforced the importance of integrating gender and youth perspectives into environmental policy discussions. The opportunity to present our project findings and engage with international experts and practitioners contributed significantly to my academic development and future research interests.
Ein Reisebericht von Brenda M. Mazumba
