In Horowpothana, a rural community in Sri Lanka’s Anuradhapura district, a woman aspiring to start a small business shared her experience:
“The bank asked for land deeds, but all the land is in my husband’s name. I had no choice but to borrow from a moneylender. I am still paying the interest.” - (Field interviews, EthicalX Climate & Innovation Hub, 2025)
Her experience reflects the broader challenges faced by many women across Sri Lanka, who have a growing interest in entrepreneurship and innovation but face persistent barriers to accessing finance, markets, and business networks.1 In a country increasingly exposed to climate shocks, these constraints for female entrepreneurs also weaken the ability of local economies to diversify and build resilience.
The link between gender equality and climate action is increasingly recognised at the global level. Under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), countries adopted the Gender Action Plan (GAP) at COP23 in 2017 to strengthen the integration of gender considerations into climate policy and implementation.2 The recently adopted Belém Gender Action Plan further strengthens this framework by promoting gender-responsive climate governance, expanding women’s participation in decision-making, and improving access to finance, technology, and capacity-building.
The Belém GAP focuses on several priority areas:
By integrating gender considerations across climate governance and implementation, the Belém GAP aims to ensure that climate action is more ambitious, effective, and inclusive.
Sri Lanka is highly vulnerable to climate change, with droughts, floods, and other extreme weather events already affecting agriculture, water resources, infrastructure, and livelihoods.3 However, these impacts are not experienced equally, and women often face greater exposure to climate risks due to structural inequalities in access to resources, information, and economic opportunities. Gender disparities remain evident in labour market participation and sectoral employment patterns. Women are concentrated in sectors like food systems and apparel,4 which are highly sensitive to climate vulnerability and supply chains disruptions.
These dynamics highlight a central principle reflected in the GAP: climate impacts interact with existing social inequalities. Addressing climate change therefore requires policies that recognise gendered vulnerabilities while supporting women as leaders in climate solutions.
Micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) form the backbone of of Sri Lanka’s economy,5 but often have limited capacity to absorb climate-related shocks. Floods, droughts, and supply chain disruptions can quickly threaten business continuity. In Sri Lanka only around a quarter of SME owners are women, highlighting the persistent gender gap in entrepreneurship.6
Women entrepreneurs are increasingly integrating sustainability into their business models through practices like water conservation, waste reduction, and sustainable sourcing strengthening resilience into climate risks. Women-led enterprises can also function as local engines of climate adaptation by investing in resilient and sustainable practices directly into production systems and supply chains, thereby contributing to environmental sustainability and community livelihoods.
Despite the potential, many women entrepreneurs face persistent structural barriers. Access to finance remains one of the most significant challenges, as formal financial institutions often require land property as collateral for loans. Because these assets are frequently registered under male family members, many women struggle to secure loans and may rely on high-interest informal lenders. Social norms further limit entrepreneurial opportunities, as women are expected to prioritise domestic responsibilities, leaving less time for business development, training, and networking.
Research conducted in Horowpothana by SLYCAN Trust illustrates how these barriers intersect in practice. Women aspiring to start businesses often face a combination of financial constraints, limited access to information, and social expectations that discourage entrepreneurial risk-taking. Yet, interactions with women participating in entrepreneurial capacity-building workshops reveal strong levels of curiosity, engagement, and motivation. The challenge is therefore not a lack of interest, but limited access to opportunities, resources, and supportive networks.
The Belém Gender Action Plan emphasises the importance of translating global commitments into practical action at national and local levels. In Sri Lanka, this requires coordinated efforts across government institutions, financial systems, the private sector, and civil society to ensure that women can participate fully in climate-resilient economic activities.
Improving access to gender-responsive green finance is a critical step. Financial instruments such as collateral-free loans, credit guarantees, and digital microfinance platforms can enable women-led businesses to invest in climate-friendly technologies and sustainable production practices.
In addition to finance access, it is equally important to strengthen climate-smart entrepreneurial skill development and training programmes. Mentorship and professional networks can further help women entrepreneurs to focus on sustainable production methods, climate risk management, and resource-efficient technologies. Access to experienced business leaders and peer learning platforms can help women entrepreneurs share knowledge, build confidence, and navigate the challenges of scaling sustainable enterprises.
The theme of the International Women’s Day 2026 reminds us that progress often begins with investment. When women are given access to education, finance, networks and leadership opportunities, it leads to economic growth, resilient communities, and more effective climate solutions.
Women across Sri Lanka are already demonstrating their capacity to innovate and adapt to climate challenges. Removing structural barriers and strengthening enabling environments will allow these businesses to grow and contribute to climate-resilient local economies. Supporting women in climate action is a strategic investment in resilience, economic stability, and sustainable development. As countries work to implement the Belém GAP, strengthening women’s entrepreneurship and leadership at the local level will be essential for translating global climate commitments into real solutions.
SLYCAN Trust contributes to these efforts through the EthicalX: Climate & Innovation Hub, an initiative that supports ethical, sustainable, and climate-friendly entrepreneurship and innovative solutions. EthicalX works by enhancing understanding, building capacities, providing technical support and expertise, and co-creating business and partnerships models, with a special focus on vulnerable communities, women, and youth. This blog draws on ongoing research from the Hub examining the intersection of climate change, gender, and entrepreneurship in Sri Lanka.
This International Women’s Day, the message is clear: when we invest in women, everyone gains.
Dulanga Witharanage serves as the Country Director for EthicalX Climate and Innovation Hub Sri Lanka, while also overseeing the knowledge management components for SLYCAN Trust. With over six years of experience at the intersection of climate change and international development, she has concentrated on private sector development and climate change integration across the Asia-Pacific region, particularly in portfolios encompassing agriculture, fisheries, and tourism.An environmental scientist by profession, Dulanga is currently pursuing a Masters in Climate Change and Environmental Management. Her academic journey, combined with executive education at the Saïd Business School, University of Oxford, has equipped her with a comprehensive understanding of environmental issues and strategic management approaches.Dulanga's entry into the international development sector was fuelled by her passion for driving meaningful change. At SLYCAN Trust, she focuses on uplifting sustainable, ethical entrepreneurs, leveraging her expertise to inspire and enact positive transformations within communities.
In Horowpothana, a rural community in Sri Lanka’s Anuradhapura district, a woman aspiring to start a small business shared her experience:
“The bank asked for land deeds, but all the land is in my husband’s name. I had no choice but to borrow from a moneylender. I am still paying the interest.” - (Field interviews, EthicalX Climate & Innovation Hub, 2025)
Her experience reflects the broader challenges faced by many women across Sri Lanka, who have a growing interest in entrepreneurship and innovation but face persistent barriers to accessing finance, markets, and business networks.1 In a country increasingly exposed to climate shocks, these constraints for female entrepreneurs also weaken the ability of local economies to diversify and build resilience.
The link between gender equality and climate action is increasingly recognised at the global level. Under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), countries adopted the Gender Action Plan (GAP) at COP23 in 2017 to strengthen the integration of gender considerations into climate policy and implementation.2 The recently adopted Belém Gender Action Plan further strengthens this framework by promoting gender-responsive climate governance, expanding women’s participation in decision-making, and improving access to finance, technology, and capacity-building.
The Belém GAP focuses on several priority areas:
By integrating gender considerations across climate governance and implementation, the Belém GAP aims to ensure that climate action is more ambitious, effective, and inclusive.
Sri Lanka is highly vulnerable to climate change, with droughts, floods, and other extreme weather events already affecting agriculture, water resources, infrastructure, and livelihoods.3 However, these impacts are not experienced equally, and women often face greater exposure to climate risks due to structural inequalities in access to resources, information, and economic opportunities. Gender disparities remain evident in labour market participation and sectoral employment patterns. Women are concentrated in sectors like food systems and apparel,4 which are highly sensitive to climate vulnerability and supply chains disruptions.
These dynamics highlight a central principle reflected in the GAP: climate impacts interact with existing social inequalities. Addressing climate change therefore requires policies that recognise gendered vulnerabilities while supporting women as leaders in climate solutions.
Micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) form the backbone of of Sri Lanka’s economy,5 but often have limited capacity to absorb climate-related shocks. Floods, droughts, and supply chain disruptions can quickly threaten business continuity. In Sri Lanka only around a quarter of SME owners are women, highlighting the persistent gender gap in entrepreneurship.6
Women entrepreneurs are increasingly integrating sustainability into their business models through practices like water conservation, waste reduction, and sustainable sourcing strengthening resilience into climate risks. Women-led enterprises can also function as local engines of climate adaptation by investing in resilient and sustainable practices directly into production systems and supply chains, thereby contributing to environmental sustainability and community livelihoods.
Despite the potential, many women entrepreneurs face persistent structural barriers. Access to finance remains one of the most significant challenges, as formal financial institutions often require land property as collateral for loans. Because these assets are frequently registered under male family members, many women struggle to secure loans and may rely on high-interest informal lenders. Social norms further limit entrepreneurial opportunities, as women are expected to prioritise domestic responsibilities, leaving less time for business development, training, and networking.
Research conducted in Horowpothana by SLYCAN Trust illustrates how these barriers intersect in practice. Women aspiring to start businesses often face a combination of financial constraints, limited access to information, and social expectations that discourage entrepreneurial risk-taking. Yet, interactions with women participating in entrepreneurial capacity-building workshops reveal strong levels of curiosity, engagement, and motivation. The challenge is therefore not a lack of interest, but limited access to opportunities, resources, and supportive networks.
The Belém Gender Action Plan emphasises the importance of translating global commitments into practical action at national and local levels. In Sri Lanka, this requires coordinated efforts across government institutions, financial systems, the private sector, and civil society to ensure that women can participate fully in climate-resilient economic activities.
Improving access to gender-responsive green finance is a critical step. Financial instruments such as collateral-free loans, credit guarantees, and digital microfinance platforms can enable women-led businesses to invest in climate-friendly technologies and sustainable production practices.
In addition to finance access, it is equally important to strengthen climate-smart entrepreneurial skill development and training programmes. Mentorship and professional networks can further help women entrepreneurs to focus on sustainable production methods, climate risk management, and resource-efficient technologies. Access to experienced business leaders and peer learning platforms can help women entrepreneurs share knowledge, build confidence, and navigate the challenges of scaling sustainable enterprises.
The theme of the International Women’s Day 2026 reminds us that progress often begins with investment. When women are given access to education, finance, networks and leadership opportunities, it leads to economic growth, resilient communities, and more effective climate solutions.
Women across Sri Lanka are already demonstrating their capacity to innovate and adapt to climate challenges. Removing structural barriers and strengthening enabling environments will allow these businesses to grow and contribute to climate-resilient local economies. Supporting women in climate action is a strategic investment in resilience, economic stability, and sustainable development. As countries work to implement the Belém GAP, strengthening women’s entrepreneurship and leadership at the local level will be essential for translating global climate commitments into real solutions.
SLYCAN Trust contributes to these efforts through the EthicalX: Climate & Innovation Hub, an initiative that supports ethical, sustainable, and climate-friendly entrepreneurship and innovative solutions. EthicalX works by enhancing understanding, building capacities, providing technical support and expertise, and co-creating business and partnerships models, with a special focus on vulnerable communities, women, and youth. This blog draws on ongoing research from the Hub examining the intersection of climate change, gender, and entrepreneurship in Sri Lanka.
This International Women’s Day, the message is clear: when we invest in women, everyone gains.
