Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI)

Gender equality and social inclusion are essential to achieving long-lasting ecosystem restoration. The GEF Ecosystem Restoration Integrated Program (ERIP) ensures that restoration strategies include the voices, rights, and leadership of women, youth, Indigenous Peoples, and local communities across its 20 participating countries. By involving everyone, ERIP builds stronger, fairer, and more sustainable solutions for nature. 

Photo credit: © FLAVIO FORNER

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Why GESI Matters

Gender equality and social inclusion are key to solving global environmental challenges. Research shows that when women and marginalized groups are involved in managing natural resources, projects are more effective and sustainable. In ecosystem restoration, their knowledge and leadership help tackle climate change, protect biodiversity, and support community development. The GEF Ecosystem Restoration Integrated Program (ERIP) brings this to life by ensuring that women, youth, Indigenous Peoples, and local communities lead and benefit from restoration efforts —creating fairer, stronger, and longer-lasting results for people and the planet. 

Photo credit: © Jessica Scranton

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ERIP’s Role & Strategy

The ERIP supports countries and partners in advancing gender equality and social inclusion through a collaborative, action-driven approach. ERIP helps build capacity by fostering a global community of practice where restoration practitioners share experiences, challenges, and solutions. This network strengthens local leadership and ensures restoration efforts reflect diverse voices and needs. 

To drive impact, ERIP offers global networking opportunities, resource platforms, and practical tools to help integrate GESI into restoration planning and implementation. It also provides tangible, real-world examples of GESI in action—showcasing how inclusive approaches lead to better outcomes. 

Photo credit: © Thomas Muller

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Our Vision for Success

- Inclusive leadership and decision-making in ecosystem restoration 

- Equitable restoration benefits and enhanced community resilience 

- Stronger, more sustainable restoration  

Photo credit: © Starbucks

Looking Ahead

Gender equality & social inclusion is central to ERIP’s vision of building a global movement for ecosystem restoration. As a coordinated effort to scale up restoration, ERIP recognizes that lasting impact depends on including everyone – especially women, youth, Indigenous Peoples, and local communities. ERIP’s strong GESI approach is a driver of innovation, resilience, and long-term impact.   

ERIP works with and through a wide range of partners to ensure restoration is inclusive, effective, and scalable. By drawing on diverse knowledge and leadership, restoration becomes more resilient and rooted in local realities. GESI also helps build stronger community ownership, helping efforts last and grow. Through practical tools, peer learning, and global platforms, the ERIP helps countries and partners to embed GESI into restoration efforts – laying the groundwork for ecosystems and communities to recover, adapt, and flourish in a changing climate.

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    ERIP countries engage in global exchange on restoration and protected areas

    ERIP child projects focused on restoration in and around protected and conserved areas (PCAs) took part in the Global Knowledge Exchange Workshop on “Strengthening the Effectiveness and Impact of Protected and Conserved Areas,” held from 18–22 May in Chengdu, China.

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    Madagascar Launches National Restoration Initiative Under ERIP

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Trainings and Webinars

Learning

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    Restoration for Climate Adaptation Training

    The Restoration for Climate Adaptation Training is an online learning opportunity for ecosystem restoration practitioners interested in strengthening the climate adaptation dimension of their work. It provides a shared space to build understanding, exchange experiences, and explore how ecosystem restoration can support people in adapting to climate change. 

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    ERIP Capacity Building Bootcamps

    The Ecosystem Restoration Integrated Program Capacity Building Bootcamps are two cohort‑based online programs designed to support ERIP country teams in strengthening skills, tools, and peer learning for ecosystem restoration planning and finance.  In 2026, ERIP offers two distinct bootcamps tailored to different but complementary capacities: Restoration Action Planning Bootcamp and Restoration Finance Bootcamp. 

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    Assisted Natural Regeneration Practitioner Training Course 2026

    This free eight-week online course starts on 1 June 2026 and is developed for ecosystem restoration practitioners. It focuses on Assisted Natural Regeneration (ANR) approaches, benefits and constraints. The course covers essential steps of planning, implementation and monitoring ANR, offering a solid foundation for achieving broad socio-economic and environmental outcomes through practices designed to enhance natural regeneration across ecosystems and landscapes.

Resources

Resources

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    Assisted Natural Regeneration Factsheet 5: ANR in production ecosystems

    Part 5 of a series of factsheets on Assisted Natural Regeneration (ANR) created by a team of global experts on ANR led by renowned ecologist Robin Chazdon. This installment provides an overview of ANR’s implementation potential in productive ecosystems, and includes translations in English, French, Portuguese, and Spanish. 

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    Assisted Natural Regeneration Factsheet 4: Assessing costs of ANR

    Part 4 of a series of factsheets on Assisted Natural Regeneration (ANR) created by a team of global experts on ANR led by renowned ecologist Robin Chazdon. This installment provides a framework for assessing the costs of ANR, and includes translations in English, French, Portuguese, and Spanish. 

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    Assisted Natural Regeneration Factsheet 3: Biophysical enabling factors for ANR

    Part 3 of a series of factsheets on Assisted Natural Regeneration (ANR) created by a team of global experts on ANR led by renowned ecologist Robin Chazdon. This installment provides an overview of ANR’s biophysical enabling factors, and includes translations in English, French, Portuguese, and Spanish.