From 26–28 May, the Asian Development Bank's Gender Equality Division brought together member country representatives, ADB staff, and development partners for Built for Her: Designing for Women in a Warming World, a three-day program held in the lead-up to Global Heat Action Day on 2 June.

Comprising 11 sessions, the program drew 207 participants and included presentations from various ADB departments. Following opening remarks by Gender Equality Division Director Keiko Nowacka and Water and Urban Development Director Neeta Pokhrel, discussions explored the compounding heat burdens women face and highlighted a range of gender-responsive solutions to rising temperatures, including early warning systems, parametric heat insurance, integration of passive cooling and heat-responsive design in the built environment, and resilience measures across the agriculture, health, and education sectors.

Access event materials
Download event presentations and materials, and browse through photos that capture the event's highlights.

DAY 1

Day 1 examined the disproportionate impacts of extreme heat on women and girls within the built environment and the importance of integrating heat considerations into urban planning and investments. Discussions highlighted approaches to creating more inclusive and heat-resilient spaces that better respond to the needs of vulnerable groups.

DAY 2

Day 2 explored the effects of extreme heat on agriculture, health, and education, and what these impacts mean for women across Asia and the Pacific. Sessions examined how rising temperatures can affect their livelihoods, well-being, and learning, while underscoring the need for gender-responsive adaptation measures across these sectors.

DAY 3

Day 3 focused on actionable solutions to extreme heat, including early warning systems, parametric heat insurance, and the recognition of heat stroke. Discussions emphasized the importance of translating data and evidence into coordinated, inclusive action that provides protection and support to women and communities most affected by extreme heat.

Additional resources

Build a cooler classroom for girls

During the 2024 heat waves in Dhaka, Bangladesh, Nowshi's school closed for a week after classroom temperatures rose to dangerous levels.

Drag and drop elements in this interactive space to design a cooler, safer classroom, so Nowshi and girls everywhere can keep learning no matter how hot it gets.

Use this as a tool to spark conversations about how we can design heat-resilient spaces across the environments women and girls move through every day. Share your creations on social media by tagging #BuiltForHer.

Take on the challenge!

Is your hometown hotter than when you were born?

Climate change is making hot days more common almost everywhere. This interactive tool, published by The New York Times using an analysis from the Climate Impact Lab, lets you see how many more hot days your hometown has gained since you were born, and how many more it's projected to gain by the time you're older.

Find out just how much!

Disclaimer: These presentations and materials are shared to support learning and encourage the exchange of ideas among ADB member countries. The views expressed are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the Asian Development Bank (ADB), its Board of Governors, or the governments they represent.

To learn more about ADB's work on Gender and Heat, visit our data room:

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