Simon Jessop, Carolyn Cohn

LONDON/GLASGOW – Women need to be at the top in multilateral institutions, Amanda Blanc, Chief Executive of British Insurer, said. Aviva (LON.) Chair, Climate Action Group.

Blanc will be joined by other top leaders from the Women in Finance Climate Action Group, who will make recommendations to COP26 in Glasgow (Scotland) on November 3, for better gender equality in organizations that offer climate finance.

This group also seeks a global structure for reporting data on gender and metrics that will aid in investment decisions related to climate change.

Blanc stated that while about 80% of those affected by climate change are women but that only 19% are members of the International Monetary Fund or World Bank boards are females in a late Monday interview.

Blanc is the British Women in Finance Charter Champion. Blanc said, “If women make up 51% of the total population, would it be unreasonable to assume that (be) more than 19%?”

To ensure that you have good representation, and an effective voice at the table, it is important to look for a percentage closer to 30%-40%.

Sarah Breeden is the executive director of Bank of England. Irina Guhaplanyan is a senior advisor at World Bank. Alison Rose CEO of NatWest and Tanya Steele CEO of WWF UK are other members of Women in Finance Climate Action Group.

It is also seeking to increase women’s access financial services, and improve gender equity in climate planning.

A report of the group that was seen by Reuters is due to be published on Tuesday. It highlights Nafika’s story, a mother-of-7 who cultivates tomatoes and leaf vegetables in Mgwase Village, Tanzania.

Droughts can cause her yield to drop by up to 90%, which could impact the family’s ability and livelihood.

Blanc stated that women are frequently the breadmakers in developing countries. They also work full-time, raise families and tend to be involved in agriculture or food production.