INVOLVE WOMEN IN CLIMATE CHANGE DECISIONS SAYS CS TOBIKO

CS Keriako Tobiko giving his opening remarks during the regional workshop on women participation in REDD+ processes in Africa at a Nairobi Hotel.

Women from poor, forest-dependent communities play a key role in the management of forests yet they are marginalized from decision-making and sharing the benefits of climate investment finance Environment and Forestry Cabinet Secretary Keriako Tobiko has said.

“They don’t sit in council of elders that make decisions at community level, these are our mothers and yet they are the repositories of our cultural, traditional and intellectual property” The CS noted.

Mr.Tobiko said that it is sad that women were  not allowed to sit where decisions were made for their voices to be heard and therefore played  no role in controlling resources and  they do not receive even a penny from the billions that accrue from this exploitation.

He however called on the meeting to emulate Mikoko Pamoja an initiative from Gazi in Kwale County that has brought together ordinary women who have planted mangroves and were able to restore 100 acres and are now reaping from carbon credit.

A group photo of participants possing for a during the regional workshop on women participation in REDD+ PROCESSES in Africa. (1)

The CS was speaking when he opened a regional workshop on indigenous women participation in conservation program known as “Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD+) processes in Africa at a Nairobi hotel. It was attended Women from various parts of the world.

He said that Africa lacked sufficient financial and technical resources to design, implement and effectively monitor forest-based climate change mitigation and adaptation.

The workshop was also attended by various local women organizations alongside officials of the world bank.