Youth as game-changers? : Young people’s voices on social equity and climate adaptation in Kenya
This working paper explores the perspectives of young men and women in rural Kenya on social equity and climate adaptation. It draws on research conducted in three Endorois indigenous communities in Baringo County. Focus group discussions addressed young people’s understandings and experiences of so...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Artículo preliminar |
| Language: | Inglés |
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Nordic Africa Institute
2024
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://hdl.handle.net/10568/169682 |
| _version_ | 1855519108410376192 |
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| author | Ebenstål Almeida, Olivia Chelagat, Jeruto Cherutich, Reuben Kiptoo Fisher, Eleanor Hellin, Jon Lindbäck, Tilde Kimaru, Daisy Jepchirchir Kimaru, Wilson Kimosop Ngetich, Benson Petesch, Patti Jemase Yator, Caroline |
| author_browse | Chelagat, Jeruto Cherutich, Reuben Kiptoo Ebenstål Almeida, Olivia Fisher, Eleanor Hellin, Jon Jemase Yator, Caroline Kimaru, Daisy Jepchirchir Kimaru, Wilson Kimosop Ngetich, Benson Lindbäck, Tilde Petesch, Patti |
| author_facet | Ebenstål Almeida, Olivia Chelagat, Jeruto Cherutich, Reuben Kiptoo Fisher, Eleanor Hellin, Jon Lindbäck, Tilde Kimaru, Daisy Jepchirchir Kimaru, Wilson Kimosop Ngetich, Benson Petesch, Patti Jemase Yator, Caroline |
| author_sort | Ebenstål Almeida, Olivia |
| collection | Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace) |
| description | This working paper explores the perspectives of young men and women in rural Kenya on social equity and climate adaptation. It draws on research conducted in three Endorois indigenous communities in Baringo County. Focus group discussions addressed young people’s understandings and experiences of social equity and fairness, empowerment, collective action, local governance, natural resource management, and climate adaptation. By applying a social equity lens to young people’s understandings and interpretations of the risks and opportunities they face, this research aims to identify entry points that empower them to advance their own lives and communities in ways they value. The findings suggest that young men and women perceive their communities as largely equitable — despite facing compounding disadvantages that include climate change and loss of livestock, the mainstay of their livelihoods. They value social equity and fairness, advocating for a balanced approach that prioritizes the most vulnerable, treats people equally, and ensures inclusive decision-making guided by competent leaders. Based on these understandings, they emphasize the strength of their village institutions and of their generation’s agency and capabilities. Nevertheless, the testimonies also reveal significant barriers to achieving equitable climate adaptation, related to the need for greater access to resources and opportunities. Young women, especially, report a deep sense of marginalization and experience significant gender inequalities, noting their limited participation in the institutions and networks governing decision-making and resource distribution within their households and communities. Despite these challenges, both young women and men in the study had attained education at high school or college level, and felt empowered by their academic achievements. Their aspirations for improving their lives and strengthen their villages’ resilience to climate change offer a basis for optimism. The study proposes investing in stakeholder capacity, fostering youth leadership and inter-generational exchanges, and developing strategies and partnerships responsive to the needs of rural youth, with particular concern for young women’s inclusion. It underscores the importance of locally-led governance, inclusive decision-making, and collective action as key to achieving equitable climate adaptation and social transformation. |
| format | Artículo preliminar |
| id | CGSpace169682 |
| institution | CGIAR Consortium |
| language | Inglés |
| publishDate | 2024 |
| publishDateRange | 2024 |
| publishDateSort | 2024 |
| publisher | Nordic Africa Institute |
| publisherStr | Nordic Africa Institute |
| record_format | dspace |
| spelling | CGSpace1696822025-12-08T09:54:28Z Youth as game-changers? : Young people’s voices on social equity and climate adaptation in Kenya Ebenstål Almeida, Olivia Chelagat, Jeruto Cherutich, Reuben Kiptoo Fisher, Eleanor Hellin, Jon Lindbäck, Tilde Kimaru, Daisy Jepchirchir Kimaru, Wilson Kimosop Ngetich, Benson Petesch, Patti Jemase Yator, Caroline climate change adaptation equity gender youth This working paper explores the perspectives of young men and women in rural Kenya on social equity and climate adaptation. It draws on research conducted in three Endorois indigenous communities in Baringo County. Focus group discussions addressed young people’s understandings and experiences of social equity and fairness, empowerment, collective action, local governance, natural resource management, and climate adaptation. By applying a social equity lens to young people’s understandings and interpretations of the risks and opportunities they face, this research aims to identify entry points that empower them to advance their own lives and communities in ways they value. The findings suggest that young men and women perceive their communities as largely equitable — despite facing compounding disadvantages that include climate change and loss of livestock, the mainstay of their livelihoods. They value social equity and fairness, advocating for a balanced approach that prioritizes the most vulnerable, treats people equally, and ensures inclusive decision-making guided by competent leaders. Based on these understandings, they emphasize the strength of their village institutions and of their generation’s agency and capabilities. Nevertheless, the testimonies also reveal significant barriers to achieving equitable climate adaptation, related to the need for greater access to resources and opportunities. Young women, especially, report a deep sense of marginalization and experience significant gender inequalities, noting their limited participation in the institutions and networks governing decision-making and resource distribution within their households and communities. Despite these challenges, both young women and men in the study had attained education at high school or college level, and felt empowered by their academic achievements. Their aspirations for improving their lives and strengthen their villages’ resilience to climate change offer a basis for optimism. The study proposes investing in stakeholder capacity, fostering youth leadership and inter-generational exchanges, and developing strategies and partnerships responsive to the needs of rural youth, with particular concern for young women’s inclusion. It underscores the importance of locally-led governance, inclusive decision-making, and collective action as key to achieving equitable climate adaptation and social transformation. 2024-12-12 2025-01-22T19:41:17Z 2025-01-22T19:41:17Z Working Paper https://hdl.handle.net/10568/169682 en Open Access application/pdf Nordic Africa Institute Ebenstål Almeida, O., Jeruto Chelagat, W., Kiptoo Cherutich, R., Fisher, E., Hellin, J., Lindbäck, T., Jepchirchir Kimaru, D. Kimaru, W., Kimosop Ngetich, B., Petesch, P., Jemase Yator, C. 2024. Youth as game-changers? : Young people’s voices on social equity and climate adaptation in Kenya. NAI working paper II. Uppsala: Nordiska Afrikainstitutet. https://nai.diva-portal.org/smash/get/diva2:1922659/FULLTEXT02.pdf |
| spellingShingle | climate change adaptation equity gender youth Ebenstål Almeida, Olivia Chelagat, Jeruto Cherutich, Reuben Kiptoo Fisher, Eleanor Hellin, Jon Lindbäck, Tilde Kimaru, Daisy Jepchirchir Kimaru, Wilson Kimosop Ngetich, Benson Petesch, Patti Jemase Yator, Caroline Youth as game-changers? : Young people’s voices on social equity and climate adaptation in Kenya |
| title | Youth as game-changers? : Young people’s voices on social equity and climate adaptation in Kenya |
| title_full | Youth as game-changers? : Young people’s voices on social equity and climate adaptation in Kenya |
| title_fullStr | Youth as game-changers? : Young people’s voices on social equity and climate adaptation in Kenya |
| title_full_unstemmed | Youth as game-changers? : Young people’s voices on social equity and climate adaptation in Kenya |
| title_short | Youth as game-changers? : Young people’s voices on social equity and climate adaptation in Kenya |
| title_sort | youth as game changers young people s voices on social equity and climate adaptation in kenya |
| topic | climate change adaptation equity gender youth |
| url | https://hdl.handle.net/10568/169682 |
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