As the Executive Director of Score Beyond Leadership and a certified basketball coach, Mavita Ali stands at the intersection of sports, leadership, and climate justice. Her innovative approach to empowering women and youth has left an indelible mark on communities grappling with climate challenges. Through sports, Mavita transforms lives, nurtures leadership, and champions environmental resilience.
Gratias Kibanja Lukoo, est un défenseur passionné des droits des enfants et des femmes, et un leader infatigable dans les efforts de lutte contre le changement climatique en République démocratique du Congo.
Martha Mereso Sengeruan, the Executive Director of Engaruka Community Initiative Organisation (ENCO), is a champion for climate justice. Her leadership focuses on empowering marginalized voices, fostering sustainable solutions, and ensuring communities take ownership of building climate resilience. She believes that climate justice must address the root causes of inequity, advocating for inclusive solutions that bridge social and environmental concerns.
Growing up in the Maasai community of Engaruka, Tanzania, Martha experienced firsthand how environmental challenges disproportionately affect women and vulnerable groups. These experiences inspired her to establish ENCO, an organization committed to promoting sustainable practices and empowering communities. Under her guidance, ENCO has become a platform amplifying the voices of women, youth, and indigenous communities disproportionately affected by climate change. By integrating climate justice principles into all its initiatives—ranging from education to agriculture—ENCO ensures that both environmental and social vulnerabilities are addressed holistically.
Nagasha Jemimah Nyakato, a civil engineer and founder/CEO of Eco Options Uganda, is transforming the intersection of women’s health, sustainability, and climate action. Her journey is rooted in her commitment to social equity, environmental stewardship, and feminism. With a visionary approach, Nagasha addresses the deeply intertwined issues of menstrual health and climate justice, empowering women to lead sustainable solutions for their communities.
Recognizing the challenges many women face regarding menstrual care, Nagasha was inspired to seek sustainable solutions that alleviate financial stress, reduce environmental waste, and uphold women’s dignity. Her journey began when she discovered menstrual cups, a cost-effective, reusable alternative to traditional menstrual products. After experiencing the life-changing benefits firsthand, she saw an opportunity to bridge a glaring gap in the local market, particularly for rural women.
On 25th November 2024, during the National Launch of the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Based Violence in Kampala, the Women’s International Peace Centre was honored with a prestigious award by the Government of Uganda through the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development in recognition of our unwavering commitment to advancing the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) Agenda in Uganda.
Glory watering trees recently planted to promote climate resilience
Glory Mlaki is a Tanzanian woman activist, policy analyst, researcher, trainer and facilitator with over 15 years working on issues of human rights, legal, sexual and gender based violence. She also cordinaes various livelihood initiatives and projects focused on strengthening community capacities to adapt to climate change and enhance their wellbeing in rural communities.
Glory’s journey began as a Legal Officer providing aid to survivors of domestic and gender-based violence. While working with women and girls, she uncovered a deeper issue: the profound link between climate change and violence. Economic instability from climate effects such as droughts and floods often fueled domestic violence, leading Glory to expand her focus. “I realized that addressing climate change could mitigate the root causes of violence,” she shares.
By integrating climate advocacy with her legal expertise, she has developed innovative approaches to strengthen community resilience.
Glory’s work centers on empowering women to take the lead in climate adaptation, ensuring that their voices are heard in policies and decision-making.
Creating Sustainable Solutions
Glory’s work focuses on building both immediate and long-term resilience in rural communities. From organizing tree planting and waste management projects to training women in organic farming and renewable energy use, her efforts improve livelihoods while protecting the environment. She also works to simplify complex climate policies and disseminates them in local languages, enabling communities to understand and advocate for their rights.
Her projects have supported small-scale producers, miners, and adolescent girls, equipping them with tools and knowledge to transition to climate-resilient activities. For example, she has helped women shift from traditional farming to sustainable businesses, despite challenges like limited capital and technical expertise.
Glory emphasizes the critical role rural women play in climate adaptation.
Women hold traditional knowledge in farming, food storage, and resource management. Their leadership ensures sustainable practices are passed to future generations,” she explains.
By fostering women’s leadership in climate action, Glory addresses systemic barriers such as gender norms, lack of education, and restricted access to resources.
Through capacity-building workshops, Glory empowers women to participate in decision-making at all levels. She also amplifies their voices through media platforms and advocacy campaigns, ensuring their priorities shape climate policies.
A capacity building session with women on climate change mitigation and adaptation
Vision for a Gender-Equal, Climate-Resilient Africa
For Glory, a gender-equal, climate-resilient Africa means equitable access to resources, education, and decision-making power for all.
We need policies that prioritize women’s leadership and fair distribution of climate finance,” she says. Her vision includes empowering marginalized groups and integrating Indigenous knowledge into climate solutions.
Glory is passionate about mentoring young women, encouraging them to take on leadership roles in climate action. She believes that equipping youth with knowledge, opportunities, and platforms to lead will ensure sustainable progress in the fight against climate change.
Call to Action
Glory urges individuals and organizations to support grassroots leaders by funding community projects, amplifying women’s voices, and sharing success stories.
We need to unite, advocate for policy changes, and participate in global platforms to bring attention to the realities faced by women on the ground,” she says.
As a steadfast advocate for climate justice, Glory Mlaki continues to inspire transformative change, proving that empowering women is key to building resilient and sustainable communities.
Figure 1: Baker Nankwanga showing off some of the green peppers planted amongst the trees
In Mutumba Subcounty, Namayingo District, Uganda, deforestation driven by charcoal burning and timber logging has severely degraded the environment, making the area increasingly vulnerable to climate change. Recognizing this challenge, Namayingo United Women Group (NUWOG) with support from the Women International Peace Centre and Global Fund for Women launched the “Empowering Communities Against Climate Change” project, an initiative which aims to restore the environment through the planting of trees focusing on empowering women to participate in environmental conservation.
Baker Nankwanga, a 47year old mother of 7 is one of the beneficiaries of the tree planting project in Mutumba Sub county having received over 500 tree seedlings planted on her land. Nankwanga’s family, like many others in the area, was primarily dependent on fishing as their source of livelihood. However, with the recent government restrictions on fishermen without proper fishing gears, many including her husband have been left out of jobs. Faced with economic uncertainty, Nankwanga was left with the burden to support her family.
When NUWOG introduced the tree-planting project, Nankwanga who was identified as a suitable beneficiary saw it as an opportunity not only to contribute to environmental restoration but also to improve her family’s wellbeing and with her husband’s support, she used an acre of their family land to plant the pine trees provided by the project.
Figure 2: One of the team members at NUWOG planting trees on Baker’s Land
As the trees have grown for over two months now, Nankwanga has adopted intercropping to ensure they are properly cared for. She plants vegetables such as green peppers and collard greens (Sukuma Wiki) alongside the young trees, which she is able to harvest, eat and sell when ready. To her, this is a way that helps her not to forget about the trees.
Without putting the green peppers in the trees, i feared i might become reluctant in watering them, and they would end up drying up. By planting vegetables, i ammotivated to water, weed, spray and monitor the trees regularly, ensuring they grow well. Nankwanga shares her motivation for intercropping.
Figure 3: Pine trees planted together with green pepper.
Understanding that the trees will take four to five years to mature, Nankwanga saw an opportunity to utilise the land more effectively by growing these vegetables. This innovative solution not only provides an income while waiting for the trees to mature but also enhances soil health and maximises land use. She has also been able to share with her neighbours some of the vegetables.
Figure 4: Some of the vegetables harvested from the garden with trees
Stephen Odong, a climate change volunteer at NUWOG and an expert in tree species, explains the strategy behind the tree-planting efforts:
When we set out to plant trees, we prioritized species with the ability to coppice. These trees can regrow after being cut, which allows the community to use them sustainably for wood or charcoal while maintaining their environmental benefits.– Odong said
This careful selection of tree species ensures that the trees provide both immediate and long-term benefits for families like Nankwanga’s.
Despite facing challenges such as low rainfall, Nankwanga, with the support of her husband, has manually watered the trees to keep them healthy. Her efforts have paid off, and the trees are growing steadily.
Looking ahead, Nankwanga is hopeful. She looks forward to selling the trees after they have matured for timber, charcoal which will help her send her children to school and meet their needs.
