Women’s leadership in humanitarian crises
Janet has become the organising secretary for the Women's Network
Katie Wilkinson
Women’s leadership in Kenya
Janet is a tea-picker and organising secretary for the Abogeta West Women’s Network in Kenya.
Through a three-year partnership project between ActionAid and the Ethical Tea Partnership (ETP), Janet has received training on human rights and leadership, which she says has helped her support survivors of gender-based violence and challenge harmful practices and discrimination in Meru’s tea-growing areas.
Women are bringing about change. There has been a lot of improvement for women and within the family unit."
Since the partnership started in January 2022, more than 12,000 people have been directly supported by the project.
How we work to advance women’s leadership in emergencies
- We promote women's engagement as leaders so that their voices are heard directly at all levels of decision-making.
- We work with women's organisations to promote protection in disasters, including providing safe spaces for women. Safe, inclusive, women-only spaces offer more than just refuge: they can foster women’s leadership, agency, and collective capacity to challenge violence and abuse in times of crisis.
- Most of our emergency responses include cash grants or livelihood programmes which increase women’s access to resources. Where women control resources, their status and influence in the community increases.
This approach helps to create long term change in transforming gender relations in communities. By opening the space for women's leadership alongside men, our approach supports women’s empowerment and the transformation of women’s positions in households and communities.
Luijah, who has worked for ActionAid for 10 years, coordinates the Food for Assets programme in Kenya.
Alice Oldenburg/ActionAid
Women leading food distribution in Kenya
Luijah has worked for ActionAid Kenya for 10 years.
She coordinateed the Food for Assets programme which helped approximately 1,800 families during the East Africa food crisis. The programme supported the most vulnerable women by providing them with food rations for their families, in return for working 12 days a month on projects that help the community.
I feel great about being a strong female leader in the community,"
"With Food for Assets, women are becoming more empowered in their household, they are managing the food. Men used to be in charge of the money so women didn’t have control."
Women ran all aspects of the programme, from Luijah's role in managing the food distribution, to the committee of local women who logged the work carried out and measured out the food and also a complaint committee within the communities to handle any issues.
“I’ve seen lots of changes in the communities, women want to work and gain independence. Women are more empowered and able to support their families."
Page updated 21 January 2026
