By Moses Magadza

The Embassy of Sweden convened a high-level, youth-centred dialogue on the intersection of climate change, gender equality and sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) on Wednesday, 9 September 2026 at the University of KwaZulu-Natal’s Westville.

The half-day event, titled “Sweden on the Road: Gender-responsive Climate Action Edition,” brought together parliamentary leaders, diplomats, academics, researchers, students and development practitioners in the Senate Chamber from 08:30 to 13:30.

Organised by the Embassy of Sweden under the leadership of Ambassador Anna Karin Eneström, the initiative sought to elevate the voices of young people while generating practical recommendations for climate-resilient health systems and South Africa’s engagement in the COP31 negotiations.

The SADC Parliamentary Forum (SADC PF), which is implementing the Sweden-funded SRHR, HIV and AIDS Governance Project across participating SADC Member States, participated in the event with the Forum’s Secretary General, Her Excellency Ms Boemo Sekgoma, delivering the concluding remarks.

The engagement came amid growing recognition that climate change is a profound human rights, public health and gender equality concern.

Floods, droughts, heatwaves and other extreme weather events can damage clinics, schools, roads and supply chains, disrupting access to contraception, maternal healthcare, HIV services and other essential SRHR services.

Displacement and economic hardship can also increase exposure to sexual and gender-based violence, exploitation, child marriage and other harmful practices.

Recent floods in KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Cape have demonstrated how climate-related emergencies can interrupt vital health and education services and expose women, adolescents and marginalised communities to heightened risks.

Against that background, Sweden on the Road provided a platform for young South Africans and senior stakeholders to examine how gender-responsive climate action can protect health, rights and human dignity.

Ambassador Eneström formally set the scene by introducing the Sweden on the Road initiative and highlighting the history of relations between Sweden and South Africa. Her remarks also covered Swedish foreign policy priorities, educational opportunities in Sweden, innovation, sustainability and Sweden’s longstanding commitment to advancing gender equality and SRHR.

Ambassador Eneström brings extensive diplomatic and multilateral experience to the initiative. She served as Sweden’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations in New York from 2019 to 2024 and has held several senior positions within Sweden’s Ministry for Foreign Affairs. Before taking up her present assignment, she served as Special Adviser on Digitalisation to the President of the United Nations General Assembly.

 The Speaker of South Africa’s National Assembly, Honourable Thoko Didiza, delivered the keynote address on the intersection between climate shocks and SRHR. Her intervention foregrounded the role of Parliament in ensuring that climate policies, disaster-response measures and public financing decisions protect women, girls and vulnerable populations

The keynote was followed by a panel discussion titled “Beyond the Floods: Protecting Rights, Health and Dignity in a Changing Climate.” Moderated by Dr Rabia Rizvi, the discussion featured Professor Kaymarlin Govender, Research Director at the Health Economics and HIV and AIDS Research Division; Ms Amanda Gcanga, Country Lead for Cities in South Africa and Senior Urban Policy Analyst at the World Resources Institute; and Dr Tamryn Crankshaw, Programme Leader for SRHR at HEARD.

The panellists explore the effects of climate-related disasters on health services, livelihoods and human rights, while considering innovations that can strengthen the resilience of communities and public institutions.

A major anticipated result of the event is the development of recommendations to inform South Africa’s preparations and positioning for COP31.

During an interactive session facilitated through Mentimeter, students and other participants will draw on the experiences of communities affected by climate-related disasters in KwaZulu-Natal. Their recommendations will be consolidated into a student-led policy brief addressing the connections among climate change, health, gender equality, human rights and SRHR.

The programme will also include Electionville, an interactive simulation through which participants will explore democratic decision-making, public participation and accountability. The day will conclude with a standing lunch and networking session.

Through the initiative, Sweden is fostering dialogue among diplomacy, Parliament, academia, civil society and young people while helping to translate lived experiences into actionable policy proposals.

SADC PF’s participation will reinforce the regional parliamentary dimension of the conversation. Through its Sweden-funded SRHR, HIV and AIDS Governance Project, the Forum works with Member Parliaments to strengthen legislation, budgeting, oversight and representative functions related to universal health coverage, gender equality, HIV, SRHR and the protection of vulnerable groups.

The event is expected to deepen understanding of the gendered effects of climate change, highlight experiences from Sweden and South Africa, amplify young people’s perspectives and produce practical recommendations for building climate-resilient and rights-based SRHR systems.

-Moses Magadza is the Media and Communications Manager at the SADC Parliamentary Forum.