Climate Change, Environmental Conservation and Livelihoods
Climate change is no longer a distant threat. It is a daily reality for millions of people around the world. Its devastating impacts are felt most acutely by vulnerable communities who have contributed the least to this crisis. Rising temperatures, prolonged droughts, flash floods, and unpredictable weather patterns continue to disrupt lives, livelihoods, and ecosystems especially in developing countries.
In Kenya, the effects of climate change have been particularly brutal for Indigenous
pastoralist communities in counties such as Narok and Kajiado. These are regions where
climate shocks have pushed already marginalized populations, especially women and girls, to
the brink of survival.
For the Maasai community, whose way of life is deeply rooted in pastoralism, recurring
droughts and shrinking grazing lands have decimated livestock, which is the foundation of
their economy and culture. As livestock numbers decline, so too does household income,
resulting in poverty and food insecurity. The Maasai women and girls bear the greatest
burden.
As primary caregivers, women are responsible for fetching water, collecting firewood,
tending to the sick and elderly, and caring for their children. Yet despite their critical roles,
many women remain economically dependent on men, a situation made even more precarious
as climate change erodes traditional livelihoods.
At Nayiari, we believe that the resilience of communities in the face of climate change begins
with the empowerment of women.
When Indigenous women are equipped with skills, resources, and opportunities to generate
their own income, they not only lift their families out of poverty but also build stronger, more
climate-resilient communities.
That is why Nayiari is working alongside Maasai women in Narok and Kajiado to create
alternative, sustainable livelihoods that reduce their vulnerability to climate change. Through
the existing groups formed by these women, they are learning, innovating, and leading the
way in climate adaptation.
Together, they are:
- Using beadwork for income generation
- Establishing small kitchen gardens to improve household nutrition and food security
- Setting up indigenous tree nurseries for sale, reforestation, and climate mitigation
- Showcasing Maasai culture and knowledge as a source of livelihood
By investing in Indigenous women, we are not just supporting families, we are strengthening
entire communities to withstand the climate crisis.
Because when women rise, communities thrive
Furthermore, Nayiari remains deeply committed to working hand-in-hand with school
children, custodians of our future, to safeguard and restore our environment. Across many
primary and secondary schools, environmental clubs have already become powerful spaces of
learning, leadership, and action and this is a good beginning.
We are determined to amplify these efforts by not just planting trees, but to grow a generation
of environmental champions. Together with children, communities, and partners, we will
reclaim public spaces, transform private lands, and nurture green, living classrooms in every
community we work with.
Because environmental conservation is not just an activity but a responsibility, a right, and a
legacy we owe to the next generation. A healthy environment is a healthy future and with
collective action, we will build it, a tree, a step at a time.
