In Kenya, after a poor harvest, a group of women discuss how to incorporate agroforestry practices into their farming systems. Photo by Ann Wavinya / CIFOR-ICRAF

When Clemence Mnyika joined the Center for International Forestry Research and World Agroforestry (CIFOR-ICRAF) in 2023 as a community facilitator in coastal Kenya, she was well-qualified for the role. Yet, she faced a significant challenge: speaking in front of a crowd. Raised in a culture where women are often expected to take a back seat in decision-making and leadership, she struggled to assert herself in public settings. This posed a significant hurdle for someone tasked with leading Gender, Equity and Social Inclusion (GESI) capacity-building sessions.

However, Mnyika’s confidence quickly grew after joining the project. During GESI facilitator training, she learned to distinguish between sex and gender roles—an insight that led her to recognize that public speaking is a gendered expectation, not an inherent ability. Armed with this understanding, she began to shed her self-doubt. Within months, she fully stepped into her role, using her voice to empower others and inspire change in her community.

Clemence Mnyika facilitating a session during one of the GESI trainings. Photo by Ann Wavinya / CIFOR-ICRAF

“My community has long overlooked the place of women in decision making,” Mnyika reflects.

Eighteen months later, Mnyika and fellow community facilitators have trained over 1200 community members in Makueni and Taita-Taveta counties, helping to reshape gender relations and dynamics and redefine women’s roles in environmental restoration.  Though the primary goal of the GESI capacity-building sessions is to equip communities with gender-transformative approaches to forest and landscape restoration, the long-term impact runs deeper. Women trainees frequently share how the training has boosted their confidence, allowing them to take more active roles in restoration efforts.   

“My community has long overlooked the place of women in decision making,” Mnyika reflects. “The GESI sessions have helped many of the women we have trained gain confidence to bring forth their ideas and follow through on them. This is solidifying the place of future generations of women in restoration initiatives.”

Empowering women through education and dialogue

International Women’s Day serves as a reminder of women’s essential role in sustainable land management and the ongoing efforts toward gender equality. In Kenya’s Makueni and Taita-Taveta counties, gender-focused initiatives demonstrate that entire communities thrive when women gain influence and opportunity.  

Through the UK PACT Nature-based Solution Project, CIFOR-ICRAF is pioneering a shift in how communities perceive gender and forest restoration. By using structured community dialogues, the project promotes mutual understanding and shared responsibility for restoration activities. This inclusive approach has increased women’s participation and created stronger, more harmonious gender relations, improving joint decision-making and collective efforts.

Mercy Musyoki, a CIFOR-ICRAF community facilitator taking participants through a sex and gender activity. Photo by Ann Wavinya / CIFOR-ICRAF

During the GESI training sessions, the facilitators employ interactive tools to encourage community discussions on gender norms. The first activity prompts communities to examine socially constructed gender roles, norms and how they have evolved over time. Other tools help participants analyze imbalances in workloads and decision-making within households, exploring how such inequalities present potential challenges for land restoration. One of the most impactful tools, ‘gender progress markers’, invites both men and women to define the changes they want to see in each other.

A GESI workshop participant in Makueni is doing one of the activities. Photo by Ann Wavinya / CIFOR-ICRAF

Recognizing women’s contribution in sustainable practices

A major outcome of these community-level training sessions is the growing recognition of women’s contributions and roles to sustainable land practices. Traditionally, forest management and restoration were male-dominated fields. However, as women gain knowledge and skills through training and these initiatives, they become powerful agents of change, leading restoration initiatives with remarkable success. 

This shift is evident in recent Community Forest Association (CFA) elections in both counties, which saw a record number of 45 women elected to leadership positions.  

“If these GESI trainings had never happened, I would never have secured this position,” says Triza Kilonzo, Makueni CFA’s newly elected secretary and a youth leader. “We have learnt that everyone must be included in restoration work. Inclusive decision-making has improved at both household and community levels.” 

Her sentiments are echoed by Peter Mutua Taita-Taveta’s forest conservator, who oversaw the CFA elections in the county.

“The teachings from GESI have revolutionized CFA leadership,” says Mutua. “Never before have we had so many women stepping forward for elections–and winning.”

Shifting societal norms for inclusive environmental conservation

This project proves that gender equity in forest and landscape restoration is more than improving women’s access to land and resources–it’s about shifting societal norms. It’s about breaking down the barriers that prevent women from stepping into leadership roles. It’s about creating a future where women and men work together as equals to protect and restore the environment and their communities. 

“Including everyone, regardless of gender, in the restoration process creates a sense of ownership,” says CIFOR-ICRAF livelihood and farming systems scientist Mary Crossland. “When people see themselves as both contributing to and benefiting from restoration, they are more likely to invest their time and energy. That leads to better and more sustained restoration outcomes.”