REMEI's gender equity program is enabling women to take leadership roles in conservation, creating lasting change for families and ecosystems alike.
In Elgeyo Marakwet, women are the backbone of household food security — yet they have historically been excluded from decisions about the land they depend on. REMEI's gender equity program is working to change that.
Centering Women in Conservation
Research consistently shows that when women are empowered as environmental stewards, conservation outcomes improve significantly. Women manage household resources, raise the next generation, and often have detailed ecological knowledge passed down through generations. Their leadership is not just fair — it is effective.
What REMEI Is Doing
Our gender equity program trains women as community conservation advocates, equips them with skills in tree planting, soil conservation, and water harvesting, and supports women-led groups to access agricultural inputs and small grants. We also work with community leaders to reduce barriers women face in participating in natural resource governance.
Stories of Change
Margaret, a participant from the Kerio Valley area, now leads a women's conservation group of 35 members. "Before, the men made all the decisions about our land. Now we have a voice — and our farm is the most productive in the village," she says. Her group has planted over 2,000 trees and established a communal kitchen garden that feeds 20 families.
Scaling the Impact
By the end of 2025, REMEI aims to have trained and supported 500 women as conservation leaders across Elgeyo Marakwet. We are also documenting learnings to share with other CBOs and NGOs working in dryland Africa.