Including the Excluded: Building Climate Resilience with the SGM Community in Pakistan

Transgender women participate in an IRC program that focuses on life skills and mental health support in Peshawar, Pakistan, (Photo: IRC Pakistan/ Mansoor Alam Khatta)

In Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, the transgender community confronts a multitude of challenges, exacerbated by the looming threat of climate change. Here, the International Rescue Committee (IRC) is taking the lead in empowering sexual and gender minority (SGM) communities, recognising their resilience and potential as agents of positive change.

Pakistan ranks as the 5th most climate-vulnerable country globally, according to the Global Climate Risk Index. Increasing floods and droughts pose significant obstacles, especially for marginalised groups like the SGM community. Often pushed to the margins of society, SGM groups encounter social stigma and systemic exclusion, limiting their access to education, healthcare, and economic opportunities.

Through the Water for Women supported LIFE II Project, IRC works to build local resilience to weather the impacts of a rapidly changing climate, with a specific focus on women and SGM communities. By involving women and SGM individuals in decision-making processes and resource management, the initiative fosters resilience within communities often overlooked by conventional development efforts.

Through climate risk assessments, IRC identified vulnerabilities and coping capacities within SGM communities, leading to the formation of two SGM "self-help" groups. These groups serve as platforms for leadership development and community representation, ensuring their voices are heard in advocating for basic needs, including water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH).

“Working closely with transgender people reveals the psychological impact of systematic oppression”

- Muhammad Ijaz Khan, IRC GEDSI Officer.

Recognising the unique mental health challenges faced by SGM individuals, IRC implemented a specialised Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) program. “Working closely with transgender people reveals the psychological impact of systematic oppression,” observed Muhammad Ijaz Khan, IRC's Gender Equality, Disability, and Social Inclusion (GEDSI) Officer.

Tailored workshops provided a safe space for introspection and healing. Participant in the program, Kontara reflects, "The MHPSS sessions allowed me to reflect on the difficulties I faced and the choices I made."  

“(My) problems were taking a toll on my mind. Then we received very sensitive training for three days ... The best part is that the IRC staff are in frequent touch with me so the healing that started during the session continues.”

- Sonia Transgender participant in the MHPSS sessions

Sonia, another participant, echoed the transformative effect of IRC's support, emphasising the value of sensitive training sessions and continued engagement. “(My) problems were taking a toll on my mind. Then we received very sensitive training for three days that helped me accept and face my problems... The best part is that the IRC staff are in frequent touch with me so the healing that started during the session continues,” said Sonia.

In addition, SGM participants engaged in a Referral Mechanism Workshop, aimed at connecting them with government and non-governmental service providers offering legal protection, sexual and reproductive health services, and social welfare support.

"We cannot change the past, but perhaps there is always something we can do differently in our present.”

- Kontara Transgender Activist

This collaborative effort between the SGM community and IRC embodies a pathway towards a more climate-resilient, just, and inclusive world. As Kontara states, "We cannot change the past, but perhaps there is always something we can do differently in our present."