KIMBO & NAPALAI Women Rights And Leadership Forums

Our Mission

Indigenous women face dual marginalization globally—once as women and again due to their indigenous identity. This severely limits their representation in leadership, education, healthcare, and economic spheres. The KIMBO and NAPALAI Women’s Leadership Forums, supported by the Livestock Climate and System Resilience project (KINNAPA and ILRI), empower women to become decision-makers in managing ecosystems, biodiversity, and economic opportunities.

Our primary goal is to provide a platform for women to share experiences, collaborate, and enhance their livelihoods while promoting gender equality and sustainable management of grazing areas and sacred sites.

Formation of Forums

Through community meetings, the KIMBO (30 members) and NAPALAI (40 members) Women’s Leadership Forums were established. Each village elected 10 representatives, and a constitution was developed to guide operations, focusing on women’s health, education, gender-based violence prevention, and economic empowerment. Ms. Paulina Ngurumwa emphasized the essence of these forums during the selection process.

Capacity Building

Training sessions equipped women with essential skills to advocate and lead effectively:

Advocacy for Gender Equality

Ms. Ngais Meshack (Kibaya Division councilor) trained women to address harmful cultural norms, such as early marriages, that undermine social and economic opportunities.

Financial Literacy & Entrepreneurship

Ms. Janeth Kawau provided training on savings, record-keeping, and accessing government loans for businesses like grain trading, livestock fattening, and poultry farming.

Food Security & Nutrition

Sessions focused on improving dietary practices to reduce malnutrition, incorporating traditional food preservation methods.

HIV/AIDS Awareness

Education on prevention, testing, and treatment adherence, dispelling misconceptions.

Ms. Jubileth Mduma (District Social Welfare Officer) guided women on addressing gender-based violence.

Official Launch

The forums were officially launched with local government support, attended by officials like Mr. Joseph Mtataiko (Ag. District Administrative Secretary). Speeches emphasized women’s leadership and their role in preventing gender-based violence, marking a significant milestone in empowering women as change agents.

Our Activities

The forums’ activities are designed to empower women and foster sustainable development:

Community Engagement: Regular meetings to gather input on issues affecting women’s livelihoods, health, and empowerment.
Leadership Development: Elections and structured leadership roles (chairperson, vice-chairperson, secretary, etc.) ensure broad representation.
Skill-Building Workshops: Training in advocacy, entrepreneurship, nutrition, and health to equip women for leadership and community initiatives.
Advocacy and Awareness: Campaigns to address gender-based violence, promote women’s rights, and enhance HIV/AIDS awareness.

Our Commitment

The KIMBO and NAPALAI Women’s Leadership Forums represent a significant step toward advancing gender equality and empowering indigenous women to contribute meaningfully to community development. By fostering collaboration, education, and advocacy, these forums address gender-specific challenges and create equitable opportunities for women to thrive. Continued support will drive lasting change and improve livelihoods in the KIMBO and NAPALAI clusters.