Resilient, Inclusive and Sustainable Environments
(RISE) Challenge
Advancing Solutions at the Intersection of Gender-Based Violence and Environmental Action
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Resilient, Inclusive and Sustainable Environments
Addressing gender-based violence and environmental linkages
Gender-based violence (GBV) is an often overlooked barrier to effective environmental and climate action. In conservation, natural resource management, and climate initiatives, women and marginalized groups frequently face violence, coercion, and exclusion that undermine both human rights and environmental outcomes.Â
The Resilient, Inclusive and Sustainable Environments (RISE) Challenge, funded by the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (Norad) and led by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), supports innovative partnerships that address gender-based violence in environmental programming while generating evidence and practical solutions for implementation on the field. By funding and connecting organisations working at the intersection of GBV mitigation and environmental action, RISE is helping ensure environmental programs and policies have the tools, partnerships, and evidence needed to address gender-based violence.Â
Why RISE Matters
Environmental programs increasingly recognise the importance of gender equality. Yet gender-based violence remains one of the least addressed barriers to equitable and effective environmental action.Â
Across conservation and climate initiatives, GBV can arise in many forms, including:Â
- Violence linked to natural resource access, use and control;Â
- Harassment or exploitation within conservation and climate projects;Â
- Violence against women environmental defenders;Â
- Increased risks associated with climate displacement and environmental changeÂ
Despite these risks, few environmental programs have been provided the tools, partnerships, and resources required to address GBV effectively. RISE was established to close this gapÂ
What RISE Does
The RISE Challenge supports organizations working at the forefront of GBV-environment action through three core pillars.Â
- Funding Innovative Solutions: RISE provides grants to organisations implementing projects that address gender-based violence risks within environmental and climate programming.Â
- Building Cross-Sector Partnerships: Projects bring together environmental organisations, women’s rights groups, GBV specialists, and local communities to co-design and pilot new approaches.
- Generating Evidence and Learning: RISE documents project results and develops practical tools and research to help environmental organizations and policymakers identify, prevent, and respond to gender-based violence.Â
RISE in Action
To date, RISE has supported 23 projects implemented by more than 60 local organisations working across 16 countries in Africa, Asia, Oceana, and the Americas. Â
These projects are testing innovative approaches that addressing gender-based violence within Conservation, natural resource governance, and climate action. Â
Across environmental contexts, RISE projects are working with communities, local and government leaders, environmental institutions, and policymakers:Â
- Strengthen safety and inclusion in natural resource sectors: Address GBV risks in sectors such as fisheries, conservation, ecotourism, and climate adaptation by improving governance, supporting women’s leadership, and ensuring women can safely participate in environmental decision-making.Â
- Transform harmful gender norms and engage men as allies: Work with communities to challenge harmful gender norms, promote positive masculinities, and develop male engagement strategies that support safer and more equitable environmental governance.Â
- Identify and mitigate GBV risks in environmental programs: Conduct gender and safety analyses, map GBV risks in conservation and natural resource management activities and integrate prevention and safeguarding measures into environmental initiatives.Â
- Influence policy and institutions shaping environmental action: Support advocacy and institutional change to integrate GBV considerations into environmental policies, protected area management, fisheries governance, and climate programs.Â
Together, RISE grantees are demonstrating that addressing gender-based violence is essential to achieving inclusive and sustainable environmental outcomes.Â
WEBINAR: Announcement of 2025 RISE Winners and GBV Referral Pathways Guidance Note
IUCN and Norad announced the three winners of the 2025 RISE Challenge and launched a new GBV Referral Pathways Guidance Note on March 12, 2026.
With support from the RISE Challenge, three projects in Cambodia, Vietnam, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo are working to mitigate gender-based violence in the context of environmental conservation. These projects work with community members, provincial officials, local leaders, and within the leadership of conservation organisations to strengthen capacity and systems that will enable safe and inclusive participation in conservation for all people, no matter their gender.Â
- Oxfam in Cambodia: Safer Landscapes, Stronger Voices: Tackling GBV in Natural Resources and Biodiversity Conservation in Stung Treng and Ratanakiri provinces
- Fauna & Flora in Vietnam: Safeguarding Communities and Tackling GBV for Inclusive Conservation
- Tearfund in the Democratic Republic of the Congo: Integrating Gender-based violence Risk Mitigation Measures in terrestrial Indigenous-managed lands of Tanganyika Province, DRC
The new GBV Referral Pathways Guidance Note assists environmental organisations, especially those in the fisheries sector to support women in the communities in which they work by explaining how to set up referral pathways — the steps an organisation takes to respond to incidents of GBV by sharing information and connecting survivors to appropriate services and support.Â
RISE Learning and Tools
Beyond grant making, RISE contributes to strengthening the broader field of practice on GBV and environmental action. Key outputs include:Â
- Research on the links between gender-based violence and environmental sectorsÂ
- Tools to support organisations in identifying and mitigating GBV risks in environmental programmingÂ
- Guidance on developing referral pathways and survivor support mechanismsÂ
- Global learning exchanges among practitionersÂ
These resources help ensure that lessons from RISE projects inform policy, practice, and investment across the environmental sector.Â
Partner with RISE
The RISE Challenge is helping pioneer solutions to one of the most under-addressed barriers to equitable environmental action. Additional donor support will enable RISE to:Â
- Expand funding for innovative projectsÂ
- Strengthen global learning and knowledge sharingÂ
- Influence environmental policy and programmingÂ
- Scale proven approaches across regions and sectorsÂ
We welcome partnerships with donors committed to advancing gender equality, climate action, and inclusive conservation.Â
RISE News
You can read past RISE bulletins below
You can view previous mailers here:
- November 2023: Building safety and dignity for a healthy planet, human rights and greener futures
- September 2023: A new bulletin!
- March 2021: A new bulletin!
- August 2021: A focus on addressing gender-based violence in biodiversity and conservation work
- September 2021: A look back at GBV-ENV Center at the IUCN World Conservation Congress
- November 2021: 16 days of global action to end gender-based violence
- March 2022: Women's Day and addressing gender safety from GBV at CSW66
- June 2022: RISE grants challenge call for proposals
- July 2022: RISE grants challenge deadline extension
- September 2022: Building positive masculinity to support gender safety
- November 2022: Amplifying messages at the COP 27 Climate Conference
- December 2022: Advances in the Global Biodiversity Framework
- March 2023: Wrapping Women's History Month
- May 2023: New RISE grants challenge call for proposals
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