Climate change has impacted rural communities in Kenya which rely on agriculture as the main source of livelihood especially affecting women. Consequently, building community resilience through social capital has been at the forefront of ways to combat the impacts of erratic rainfall and adaptation of climate-smart practices.
Moreover, gender plays a crucial role in shaping resilience as female smallholder farmers navigate the challenges posed by climate change, economic pressures, and limited resources. However, despite the burden placed on the women who are responsible for both household management and agricultural labor, their roles and social networks position them as central agents in building adaptive and transformative capacities within their communities.
According to a study done by the Itanya Africa Group, a GRP RAIN Challenge winner exploring how gender influences resilience-building in Machakos County, women in play a vital role in sustaining social cohesion and driving economic resilience.
The study engaged 15 local women, aged 21 to 65, who manage three-acre farms and support households averaging five members, to understand how they navigate risks and contribute to community resilience in a rural community reliant on rain-fed agriculture and vulnerable to erratic weather and water scarcity.
The study found that the responsibilities of managing households and agricultural duties make social networks an essential resource, particularly participation in “Chamas” (Village Savings and Loan Associations) which is common as over half of the women are involved in these groups.
The chamas play a crucial role in building resilience as the women can pool resources, share farming knowledge on emerging trends in the sector to boost yield and access microloans. This combined effort establishes a safety net that cautions the women from the adverse effects arising from crises such as crop failures or rising living costs.
Additionally, access to mobile money like M-Pesa has significantly expanded the financial autonomy of these women by to invest in education, diversifying income through small enterprises, and adopt modern farming techniques, overcoming traditional financial barriers.
Women in Machakos County are at the forefront of their community’s efforts to tackle climate challenges by blending traditional social networks with modern financial tools. The “Resilience through Regeneration” project, inspired by insights from Itanya Africa Group’s study, emphasizes women’s leadership in driving resilience strategies.
Through initiatives like “Resilience through Regeneration,” these women are not only building their own adaptive capacities but also fortifying their entire communities. By prioritizing women’s leadership in resilience strategies, communities in Machakos County and beyond are becoming better equipped to face the uncertainties of climate change.
