Gender inequality
For a long period of time indigenous Samburu women have been denied the right to own, control and access to land and other natural resources, this is as a result of existing cultural norms, beliefs and practices that don’t recognize the rights of women in the society. This has continuously demeaned the dignity of women and increased the vulnerability levels of women in the pastoral communities. Addressing issues of inequality related to resource access and ownership, participation in decision-making and benefit-sharing is one of the key tasks of SWT.
Gender inequality is most evident in access to land. Custom prohibits women from owning land in samburu community. Landless samburu women often depend on common property resources for fuel- wood and fodder. In many countries, overuse of those resources poses a serious threat to rural livelihoods and food security. Women have the potential to play a critical role in this process, as they use and manage land and other natural resources.
