Race to Resilience in action: Women building community resilience through social capital in Machakos County

Location & Region: Machakos County, Kenya

Partner: Global Resilience Partnership

Impact Systems: Food and Agriculture System

Direct Beneficiaries: Female small-holder farmers in Wamunyu, Machakos County

In rural Kenya, gender plays a crucial role in shaping resilience as female smallholder farmers navigate the challenges posed by climate change, economic pressures, and limited resources. These women, often responsible for both household management and agricultural labour, face a higher burden exacerbated by changing weather patterns and water scarcity. Yet, it is also their roles and social networks that position them as central agents in building adapative and transformative capacities within their communities.

The Itanya Africa Group, a GRP RAIN Challenge winner, conducted a baseline study to explore how gender influences resilience-building in Machakos County, specifically focusing on Wamunyu. As a rural community reliant on rain-fed agriculture, Wamunyu is particularly vulnerable to erratic weather and water scarcity. The study engaged 15 local women, aged 21 to 65, who manage three-acre farms and support households averaging five members, to understand how they navigate these risks and contribute to community resilience.

The findings highlighted that women in Wamunyu play a vital role in sustaining social cohesion and driving economic resilience. The dual responsibilities of managing households and agricultural duties make social networks an essential resource. Participation in chamas (Village Savings and Loan Associations) is common, with over half of the women involved in these groups. Through chamas, they pool resources, share farming knowledge, and access microloans, establishing safety nets that help them adapt to crises like crop failures or rising living costs. These networks also support long-term planning, allowing for structural changes that strengthen community resilience.

Although only 26.7% of the women surveyed own smartphones, access to mobile money services like M-Pesa has significantly expanded their financial autonomy. Mobile money enables women to invest in education, diversify income through small enterprises, and adopt modern farming techniques, overcoming traditional financial barriers. This digital inclusion empowers them to participate more actively in economic decision-making, driving socio-economic transformation in Wamunyu.

By combining traditional social networks with modern financial tools, women in Wamunyu are leading the community’s efforts to adapt to climate challenges. Insights from the Itanya Africa Group's study have informed the Resilience through Regeneration project, which focuses on leveraging these findings to prioritise women's leadership in resilience strategies. The project emphasises inclusive, scalable approaches tailored to the local context that can also benefit other vulnerable communities.

About the Race to Resilience

The Race to Resilience is a global campaign led by the UN Climate Change High-Level Champions, aiming to build the resilience of 4 billion people from vulnerable communities by 2030. The campaign focuses on mobilising actions that protect people, ecosystems, and economies from the impacts of climate change. Through a network of partners and local initiatives, Race to Resilience amplifies grassroots efforts, drives systemic change, and promotes scalable solutions that strengthen communities' ability to thrive despite climate risks.

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Main image by Eugene Kaiga