Stronger climate action starts by amplifying women’s voices
Authors: Dimpho Lekgeu and Kholwani Simelani
Women are the backbone of communities, and in Africa, that statement could not ring more true. As the majority heads of households, they often raise children on their own, provide essential care at home, and still contribute to the economy. Women are also often drivers of local solutions, and form a vital part of climate adaptation on the ground. Despite their central role in holding communities together, their voices remain excluded in critical policy and decision-making processes.
According to the United Nations, 80% of people displaced by climate change are women and girls, who face risks of poverty, violence, and assault during migration. In regions with challenging socioeconomic conditions, with women playing a vital role in small-scale agriculture and the informal economy, the effects of climate change are particularly harsh. It’s for this reason that women’s lived experiences and indigenous knowledge are important for shaping climate policies and yet despite the key role they play in climate justice efforts, they remain underrepresented in decision-making. Women also often face challenges in scaling their climate action efforts, due to limited access to information, which hinders their ability to apply for grants, high data costs preventing participation in digital climate programs, and traditional systems that often exclude women from decision making processes.
To address this, the African Climate Reality Project launched the AmplifyHer webinar series on the 8th of August 2024, creating a platform for women to advocate for their inclusion in climate policy, while also sharing openly about their lived experiences in climate leadership, renewable energy and campaigning. The series highlighted the importance of this firsthand experience, from leading solar panel projects in Kenya to raising awareness through digital storytelling. In addition to creating a space for knowledge sharing, the series also gave practical skills to the participants on how to apply for grants, proposal writing and setting up campaigns. These women are not just participants—they are leading the fight against climate change across the continent, and hold vital knowledge for building resilience.
The AmplifyHer Webinar Series brought together women lawmakers, policy experts, climate advocates, and grassroots leaders to explore how we can mainstream women’s voices in climate policy, leadership, and action. Over the course of four powerful sessions, we delved into key issues such as lived experiences of women climate leaders, the role of women in renewable energy, policy engagement, and practical skill-building in digital campaigning, report writing, and grant applications. This series has been a crucial step toward amplifying women’s voices in climate justice and ensuring their participation is supported and sustained.
Breaking Barriers: Lived Experiences of Women in Climate Advocacy
Our first webinar kicked off with a focus on the lived experiences of women navigating the complexities of environmental justice. Nonhle Mbuthuma from the Amadiba Crisis Committee highlighted the ongoing struggle in the Xolobeni rural area of the Eastern Cape, where oil giants continue to infringe on community rights and environmental protections. Nonhle’s testimony was a stark reminder of how deeply interconnected climate advocacy is with the rights of marginalised communities, especially rural women, who bear the brunt of environmental exploitation. Gloria Kasang, a community leader, shared her experience of breaking through the structural barriers that have historically excluded women from leadership roles. She spoke candidly about the difficulties women face when organising on the ground, from cultural biases to a lack of resources.
Women in Renewable Energy: Driving Innovation
The second session turned the spotlight on women in renewable energy, highlighting how women are not merely passive observers or even victims of the climate crisis, they are pioneers of solutions. We heard from women leaders who are transforming the renewable energy space, from managing community-owned renewable projects to navigating the male-dominated industry of clean energy. Marina Agortimevor, a panellist and coordinator for the Africa Coal Network, highlighted that renewable energy is not only sustainable but also profitable in the long term. While initial setup costs may be high, the long-term benefits outweigh the expenses, making it important to develop economic models and projections for renewable energy projects. She concluded the session by urging Africa to adopt a “transitioning mindset” toward renewable energy, emphasising that climate justice must prioritise people. She also stressed that true climate justice cannot exist without gender justice.
Mainstreaming Women’s Voices in Policy
The third session zeroed in on how to mainstream women’s participation in climate policy. This discussion centred on practical steps to ensure that women are fully represented at all levels of decision-making. One of the key takeaways was the necessity of creating gender-responsive policies that actively work to eliminate barriers be they financial, social, or educational that prevent women from engaging in leadership roles. Mentorship programs, inclusive spaces for dialogue, and access to funding for women-led initiatives were cited as crucial mechanisms to ensure women’s voices are amplified in policy arenas. Zahra Omar, one of the speakers on the day, emphasised that women can shape policy by participating in public consultation processes and submitting input on bills. She also says that companies need to simplify the language used in impact assessments, making them more accessible so that communities can effectively engage.
Capacity Building: Digital Campaigning, Report Writing, and Grant Writing
Our final session focused on equipping women with the technical skills needed to sustain their advocacy work. Marina Seisay, the first speaker, emphasised a results-based approach in reporting. Rather than getting bogged down in describing activities, she highlighted the importance of clearly articulating the impact of those activities. Ramatu Ada Ochekliye, the second speaker, provided a masterclass on digital storytelling, reminding participants that knowing your audience and understanding the channels through which you reach them is critical for impactful digital campaigns. Robyn Hills closed out the series with an in-depth session on grant writing. She stressed the importance of preparation and planning, from having a clear three-minute pitch to ensuring that all documentation is in order when submitting grant applications.
Funding women climate leaders
By offering insights into policy engagement, renewable energy, and essential skills like digital campaigning and grant writing, the series contributed to capaciting women to build resilience into their climate action efforts. To conclude the series, the African Climate Reality Project launched the Adaptation Grant for women Climate Reality Leaders who participated and would like to implement adaptation micro-actions in their communities. This is to acknowledge and support the fact that women have consistently demonstrated that they are not just participants in the fight against climate change; they are leaders, innovators, and changemakers whose contributions are crucial to creating a sustainable future.
