From September 16th to 17th, 2025, the Mt. Kenya Network Forum joined key stakeholders, civil society organizations, government representatives, and community actors in Laikipia County for the Gender Policies Training Program and Community Dialogue, organized by the SDGs Kenya Forum in partnership with the Pathways Policy Institute (PPI).
This two-day forum provided a platform to deepen understanding of gender equality frameworks, women’s economic empowerment, unpaid care work, and gender-responsive budgeting, while also amplifying voices from the community on lived realities of exclusion, barriers to leadership, and economic participation.
Key Highlights from the Program
- Unpacking Gender Frameworks: Participants explored Kenya’s National Care Policy, international care economy frameworks, and the urgent need to recognize unpaid and undervalued care work.
- Women’s Economic Empowerment (WEE): Strategies were shared on access to finance, decent work, and leadership opportunities for women and girls.
- Advocacy & Accountability: The training emphasized the 3Rs approach (Recognize, Reduce, Redistribute) for care work and provided tools for policy advocacy, community tracking, and social accountability.
- Media & Storytelling: Sessions led by communication experts highlighted how local narratives and storytelling can shape perceptions, reduce stigma, and promote gender-sensitive reporting.
- Community Dialogue: The final day was dedicated to community dialogue, featuring testimonies from women and youth, as well as practical sessions on tracking gender commitments at the local level.
Mt. Kenya Network Forum’s Role
As an organization committed to conservation, climate change resilience, and social justice, Mt. Kenya Network Forum recognizes that gender equity is central to sustainable development. Our participation in this training strengthens our capacity to:
- Integrate gender-responsive strategies into our conservation and climate programs.
- Advocate for inclusive policies that ensure women and girls have equal access to resources and leadership opportunities.
- Amplify community voices to demand accountability from duty bearers.
Why This Matters
Addressing gender inequalities is not just a social obligation — it is a development imperative. Empowering women and reducing barriers to leadership and economic participation creates more resilient communities and sustainable futures, particularly in the Mt. Kenya and ASAL regions where Mt. Kenya Network Forum works.
We look forward to applying the lessons from this training and strengthening partnerships that advance gender equality, social justice, and inclusive development in Kenya.
