A community-based approach to economically empower women and promote climate resilience.

In Kenya over 13 million pastoralists and agro-pastoralists rely on livestock, and they live in the arid and semi-arid lands of Kenya. Failed rains in Kenya between 2020 and the end of 2022 –one of the worst droughts on record – killed 2.6 million animals and left 4.4 million people short of food. That disaster was then followed by an El Niño event, with pounding rain and flash flooding drenching the region. The extreme weather lasted into December, taking a further toll on remaining livestock and economically exhausted communities. Kajiado county is one of the ASAL counties in Kenya and was greatly affected by these extreme effects of climate change.

In the Amboseli region of Kajiado County, the impact of climate change has severely disrupted traditional livestock farming, leaving families who depended on it in distress. The consequences are particularly harsh due to high levels of illiteracy and extreme poverty in the region, disproportionately affecting women responsible for their families. Despite these challenges, these women possess skills in beadwork and other crafts, often pursued as hobbies and cultural expressions rather than business endeavors. Remarkably, the beadwork industry remains largely untapped, presenting a multimillion-dollar opportunity that could offer these women a path to a new sustainable business.

HnH Kenya has collaborated with Afrikapu with support from the US Embassy Nairobi, to initiate a 6-month project aimed at both economically empowering women and enhancing community resilience. The project is designed to benefit 150 women within the Amboseli ecosystem, offering comprehensive training in beadwork, financial literacy, and digital skills.

Through this initiative, the goal is to unlock the considerable potential within these women to establish thriving and sustainable businesses, thereby fostering economic empowerment and resilience in the community.

Prepared by Elvis Leyian