Women’s collectives to enhance adaptation capacities in Kenya's dairy sector

Gender-differentiated access to collectives, learning, and financial resources continues to constrain women’s and young women’s participation in climate-smart dairy systems in Kenya. In response, a partnership with GROOTS Kenya supported the formation of ten grassroots women-led groups in Bomet County, Kenya in 2023, using a local champions approach to strengthen women’s technical knowledge, financial capacity, networking, and leadership, while engaging men to address restrictive gender norms. This innovation brief draws upon reflections from 20 group members who participated in a workshop in 2025. Testimonies indicate that collectives are critical platforms for peer learning, saving, and leadership development, contributing to increased incomes, investments in livestock and small enterprises, improved household welfare, and expanded women’s participation in the community. Engagement of men was associated with greater support for women’s leadership and reductions in gender-based violence. Despite these gains, persistent challenges including climate shocks, unstable markets, and limited capacity for saving, lending, and capital formation continue to constrain adaptation. Group members emphasized the need to address gender and age-based inequalities in learning and leadership and identified priorities for 2026 and beyond, including strengthening financial systems, value addition, enterprise diversification, and practical skills to support both short-term adaptation and long-term climate resilience