GROOTS, SSN and HIVOS are working together with their experience in leadership and mentorship programs to build on women’s sense of agency, increase women’s confidence through peer support and provide opportunities for women to undertake leadership roles.
Current project activities promote local knowledge sharing opportunities between partners and community participants and prioritize collaborations with local women’s groups or groups where women have or need to have leadership positions. The partners in Kenya are addressing the underlying harmful social norms, attitudinal and societal barriers, and heightened care responsibilities that prevent women from fully participating in development activities. The teams are working together to advocate for the enforcement of social protection laws and policies that prevent SGBV.
A number of agroecology crop production practices are being promoted for crops to withstand increasingly uncertain climatic conditions in Kenya. These crops were selected by members of the communities in each region based on the crop’s characteristics such as: household benefits, contributions to dietary needs and women’s labour investment. These include: sweet potato in Laikipia, potato, wheat and pumpkin; maize in Baringo; and in Kitui: sukuma wiki, cowpeas, sorghum and green gram will be targeted.
Where feasible (e.g., in Baringo/Nakuru, Kenya) farmers’ groups will be supported to produce honey and support improved pollinators supply. The project will train the farmers in sustainable husbandry (keeping and growing healthy bee populations, protecting complementary and useful flora), processing and marketing (branding, packaging, distribution). The Seed Security Assessment and Action Planning is key to the RWCC in Kenya as was undertaken in February 2023.
