Spring Update: The Center for Gender, Equity and the Environment (CGEE)
A very warm thank you to Planet Women’s community of supporters and partners! Below are some highlights from our impact across Africa from our 2025 Spring Impact Report.
Planet Women’s Center for Gender, Equity & the Environment (CGEE) initiative offers leadership development, gender mainstreaming training and seed grants to leaders at African environmental organizations. Our aim is to increase gender equity in the environmental sector by offering resources and technical support to grassroots groups.
In Africa, like many places in the world, women are under-resourced and under-represented in the environmental sector, which means they’re not able to shape projects that impact them, their communities and their local ecosystems. These initiatives are missing out on the myriad benefits of women’s leadership, which research shows is essential to effective sustainable development.
Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, an incredible trailblazer (former President of Liberia, Nobel Peace Prizewinner and the first democratically elected female head of state in Africa), wrote in 2022: “More [African] women should be participating in setting the agenda of the conservation industry, not only because we need gender equality but because women are likely holding the key to developing effective and sustainable conservation solutions.” Sirleaf identifies that “more women – especially rural women – should be involved in the design and planning of conservation policies, programmes and projects” and that gender action plans are needed to incorporate the perspectives of women.
Sirleaf’s call to action aligns perfectly with CGEE’s offerings:
Women’s Leadership Circle, a program to resource and mentor women in conservation organizations so they can advance in their careers, and;
Gender Mainstreaming training for men and women to learn how to create gender action plans and embed gender equity into conservation organizations and local communities.
Yvonne holding some of highly nutritious processed bean products used in her nutrition project focusing on school feeding. © Yvonne Munyangeri.
Women’s Leadership Circle (WLC)
The WLC brings together women from across Africa who are leaders in forest restoration and environmental nonprofits. During this 8-month program, participants meet monthly with our CGEE facilitators to support one another in reaching their career goals as they engage in skill-building workshops and collective learning. After graduation, participants can receive microgrants for professional or personal development, like pursuing higher education or launching a community-based project.
In May, our second cohort graduated with 24 women from 13 countries—with a diverse range of experience, from executive directors to crop researchers and wildlife rangers. In post-graduation surveys, the women have reported increased self-confidence, increased ability to self-advocate, a greater sense of community and stronger leadership skills. By the end of June, Planet Women will distribute $72,000 in seed grants to these wonderful leaders, so they can invest in themselves, their careers and their communities.
One of our recent WLC graduates, Yvonne Munyangeri, a Senior Research Associate at Alliance of Biodiversity International and CIAT, is currently studying climate-resilient farming, beans and crops that can improve nutrition in schools. “I needed a place where I could learn how to lead, share stories and confidently inform decision-making processes in the environmental sector as a woman,” said Yvonne. “And that is what I got from Planet Women’s leadership circle. I enjoyed learning from experts and connecting with my fellow women in the same sector.”
She will be using her $3,000 seed grant from Planet Women, “to cascade the training I received to women in my community [in Rwanda]. Afterwards, with the trained women, we will provide and plant fruit trees in 100 households in my community to contribute to improved nutrition, soil protection, greening our city and reducing air pollution in our neighborhood.”
Yvonne's field work includes experimental bean plots, which have shown improved bean varieties that are more resilient to climate risks and reduce pressure on natural resources like soil and water. © Yvonne Munyangeri.
Gender Mainstreaming
An 8-week curriculum, Gender Mainstreaming provides technical training in embedding gender equity into fieldwork, culminating in the creation of a gender action plan for a real-life conservation or community project. Participants learn to incorporate women’s voices and priorities in project design and implementation while mitigating conflict and safety risks. The CGEE team provides feedback on each gender action plan and offers guidance on implementation.
The course also goes beyond the technical and incorporates cross-cultural discussion in understanding gender dynamics and how to be an ally to people of all genders. Recent Gender Mainstreaming graduate, Francis Maghanga, a Community Ranger Scout with the Taita Taveta Wildlife Conservancies Association in Kenya, said:
“Gender Mainstreaming was an eye-opener. I especially enjoyed engaging with others, exchanging ideas, and creating an action plan. It showed me the importance of collaboration and intentional planning when working to dismantle gender stereotypes. Personally and professionally, it helped me understand how inclusive conservation efforts benefit everyone in the community.”
With the knowledge and skills gained in Gender Mainstreaming, Francis will assist his organization in tracking gender balance and gender impacts in conservation projects.
This spring, we’ve hosted three cohorts of Gender Mainstreaming, reaching 85 participants from more than 10 countries. Since the first classes in 2023, 107 women and 35 men from African conservation organizations have completed gender action plans and received certificates in Gender Mainstreaming.
Francis Maghanga (back left) is a Community Ranger Scout in Kenya and recent graduate of Planet Women’s Gender Mainstreaming course. © Francis Maghanga.
Check out these Center for Gender, Equity, and the Environment (CGEE) resources:
Read Ellen Johnson Sirleaf’s op-ed, “Women should be leading conservation efforts in Africa.”
Meet the CGEE team: Liliane Pari Umuhoza, Irene Ojuok, and Benita Ikirezi.
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