As global leaders, communities and partners gather for UNCCD COP17, Samburu Women Trust and the Indigenous Women Council are bringing the voices, knowledge and experiences of Indigenous women from Kenya’s rangelands to the global stage.

The side event will highlight the critical role Indigenous women play in protecting rangelands, restoring degraded landscapes, conserving biodiversity and strengthening community resilience to climate change.

For pastoralist and Indigenous communities, rangelands are more than grazing landscapes. They are the foundation of livelihoods, culture, food systems, traditional knowledge and community identity. Yet these landscapes are increasingly affected by climate change, drought, land degradation and other pressures.

The session will provide an opportunity to share community-led solutions and Indigenous knowledge, strengthen connections among stakeholders, and advocate for greater recognition of Indigenous women in land, climate and environmental decision-making.

SWT and its partners believe that sustainable rangeland management must include the people who have protected and managed these landscapes for generations. Investing in Indigenous women and girls means investing in resilient communities, healthy rangelands and a sustainable future.

We invite partners, policymakers, Indigenous Peoples, pastoralist communities, civil society and other stakeholders to join us for this important conversation and help advance practical, inclusive solutions for rangelands in Kenya and beyond.

Join us at COP17 as we move from knowledge to action and strengthen the leadership of Indigenous women in shaping the future of rangelands.