Narratives of Change: Cutting Across The Maasai Rangelands, Shaping the Better Tomorrow
by Andrew Mponin
In Narok County, the Standard Eco Watch initiative enhances indigenous pastoralist women’s leadership capabilities to build women’s capacity to achieve equality as decision-makers in pastoralist societies. Indigenous pastoralist women undertake training and then form committees that plan, implement, and monitor climate change adaptation actions in their communities. Standard Eco watch currently operates in Narok and its surrounding ecosystem, home to indigenous pastoralist communities like the Maasai, Samburu, Purko, Kalenjin and Kipsigis communities. These semi-arid and arid areas of Kenya are particularly vulnerable to climate-related hazards like droughts and flooding, which threaten livelihoods and create food insecurity. At the same time, their rangelands are also threatened by agricultural expansion, mining, and tourism.
In particular, empowering women becomes vital to ensure women’s priorities are addressed: “Although pastoralist men and women are equally exposed to climate shocks and stress, women have fewer opportunities to access and control productive resources or engage in alternative climate resilience livelihoods and incomes.” While men often venture further afield to seek employment in cities, women often remain at home to manage the household. Although this makes women’s knowledge of the environment crucial, this knowledge, along with the specific plight women face, often goes ignored in drought mitigation and adaptation strategies.
Standard Eco Watch supports pastoralist women by enhancing their leadership skills and participation in local decision-making forums, including a platform for developing and implementing action plans to support community action to mitigate the detrimental effects of climate change. These activities have included establishing grass seed banks to restore degraded land and provide income-generating activities for women, and installing rainwater-harvesting technologies to ensure access to water during dry seasons using affordable, sustainable technologies. This initiative addresses the needs of a vulnerable community whose exposure to climate hazards and susceptibility to climate risks are relatively higher. The various forms of livelihood training provided by the initiative are helping foster the long-term economic empowerment of local women and contributing to their climate resilience. In addition, the initiative is also ensuring women’s engagement and participation in decision-making forums which have traditionally been men-only spaces within indigenous pastoralist communities in Kenya, and thereby further helps develop women’s leadership for locally led adaptation.
Climate change interventions in Transmara West, Kilgoris, and Maasai Mara have resulted in local government authorities, non-governmental organizations, and local communities seeking to raise funds of more than 800,000 USD for key development projects. These funds will help communities enact local by-laws to protect water sources and grazing land, provide emergency food during periods of drought, upgrade water systems, and construct new irrigation systems. This project is “an impressive example of empowering women and local communities to plan, implement, and monitor improved climate resilience according to the needs of our communities. Grass seed banks and tree nursery beds/seedbeds have now also been established in Narok after Standard Eco Watch participated in knowledge exchange and learning visits. During the training process women were taught to tap through research into women’s knowledge of their environment, key to successful climate adaptation at the local level.
I am very pleased to see the success of an organization by and for the target community. This initiative will allow us to strengthen interventions that upskill Indigenous pastoralist women and enhance their leadership capabilities to ensure more women are involved in community action planning and can contribute to supporting their communities to manage the adverse effects of climate change. Standard Eco Watch seeks to provide leadership training for 200 “women champions” working in climate change adaptation, and women’s groups and forums will be educated about planting trees, grass seed along the range lands and water-harvesting techniques. How fortunate I am to have spent my summer leave surrounded by such beautiful nature (birds, and peaceful landscapes, to name a few)! Protecting this biodiversity and preserving these natural treasures for future generations is what drives our work at Standard Eco Watch. Much ahead, but we can make a lasting change.
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Before joining UNICEF as UN Volunteer, I was an Entrepreneur, operating a cyber cafe in my village and training out-of-school girls in digital Computer Skills, thus creating jobs. My other volunteer service covers wide health zones in Narok County, Maasai Mara, Kilgoris and beyond - with a focus on serving the most vulnerable, particularly the indigenous communities. My efforts as CYMG.UNEP Community volunteer led to significant strides in increasing vaccine coverage by actively engaging community members and also using Standard Eco Watch. My efforts bore fruit in changing attitudes and perceptions towards vaccination. Introducing proxy registrations for birth certificates outside traditional health facilities was also a significant measure for the community. This was part of broader efforts in the region and has effectively increased the number of children registered with local authorities. The increase in registration not only secures the legal identity of children but also ensures their rightful access to essential health services. My proactiveness in advocating for vaccination, particularly focusing on integrating indigenous communities into vaccination services included community leaders as part of teams. This approach built trust and narrowed cultural divides.
Notably, in Iton'g health zone in Maasai Mara game reserve, my efforts led to the reintegration of 200 out of 800 children previously non-compliant with the vaccination schedule. Furthermore, my volunteer efforts extended beyond vaccination to broader health, environmental health and welfare issues, such as anti-FGM campaigns. By advocating for the registration of children born outside of health facilities, I significantly enhanced their access to health and nutritional services. This was after I paid a visit to one of my neighbouring counties Turkana and Samburu only to find children born outside health facilities are suffering from multinutrional conditions. Looking ahead, I want to promote inclusion across various key areas, such as ensuring that children, especially the ones from marginalised communities, receive the comprehensive care and support they need. I also want to make sure children who are in regions affected by hazards such as floods and drought do not continue missing vital schooling, as well as access to clothes, shelter, food and clean water for drinking. My commitment exemplifies my dedication to not just the immediate health needs of children, but also to the broader well-being and empowerment of vulnerable communities.
My advocacy for the youth and environment movement extended into 2023 when I was selected as a UNEP Youth Delegate at the African Youth Climate Assembly that took place during the UNICEF WCARO Regional Network Meeting in Nairobi, Kenya. My role as an experienced youth advocate, foundation reporter and community leader underscores my commitment to empowering adolescents and youth, with a particular focus on immigrants and girls, encouraging them to become agents of change and peace. The beauty of activism is its ability to awaken the world to our planet's precarious state and ignite the flames of change for the sake of future generations. It's the hope that keeps me going, knowing that my actions may secure a better tomorrow.
About
My name is Andrew Meitekini Mponin, and I am a passionate advocate for climate resilience and community empowerment, particularly among indigenous pastoralist communities in Kenya. Growing up in Narok County, I witnessed first hand the challenges posed by climate change, especially in semi-arid regions like the Maasai rangelands. This inspired my work with the Standard Eco Watch initiative, where I help indigenous women become leaders in climate adaptation by training them in sustainable practices like rainwater harvesting and land restoration.
In addition to my environmental advocacy, I have worked as a UN volunteer, promoting vaccination campaigns, digital skills training, and youth engagement in marginalized communities. My focus on grassroots action and leadership development aims to create a future where vulnerable communities can thrive despite climate challenges. By blending local knowledge with modern solutions, I believe we can build a more resilient and sustainable tomorrow.