On October 15, the world unites to celebrate the INTERNATIONAL DAY OF RURAL WOMEN, honoring the pivotal role rural women play in shaping sustainable communities and protecting the environment. This year’s theme, “Rural Women Sustaining Nature for Our Collective Future: Building Climate Resilience, Conserving Biodiversity, and Caring for Land Towards Gender Equality and Empowerment,” aligns perfectly with the mission of WISE (Women Initiative for Sustainable Environment), which has long championed rural women’s empowerment in the fight against climate change and environmental degradation.
RURAL WOMEN AS STEWARDS OF THE ENVIRONMENT.
Rural women are the backbone of agricultural production and environmental conservation. At WISE, we recognize that these women are essential to maintaining the ecosystems that support food security and biodiversity. In many communities across Nigeria and beyond, rural women are not just farmers; they are the protectors of natural resources, using their deep-rooted knowledge to sustain the earth.
Despite their contributions, rural women face unequal access to land, credit, and technology, often exacerbating the challenges they face in a changing climate. Yet, these women stand resilient, and WISE continues to amplify their efforts through various programs and advocacy initiatives.
BUILDING CLIMATE RESILIENCE: WISE’s Commitment.
At the core of WISE’s work is empowering rural women to lead in building climate resilience within their communities. Through our programs, such as clean cookstove distribution drives and sustainable farming workshops, we support women in adopting practices that reduce environmental harm and mitigate the effects of climate change.
This year’s theme emphasizes that rural women are not only affected by climate change—they are also key actors in addressing it. WISE’s initiatives have trained hundreds of women on sustainable land management, conservation, and climate-smart agriculture. These women are now equipped to combat extreme weather events, manage water resources, and restore degraded lands, ensuring food security and the longevity of the ecosystems they depend on.
CONSERVING BIODIVERSITY WITH INDIGENOUS KNOWLEDGE.
Rural women possess invaluable indigenous knowledge that helps conserve biodiversity. They are the keepers of seeds, medicinal plants, and traditional agricultural practices that nurture the soil and promote diverse ecosystems. WISE’s programs are centered around supporting these women to preserve this biodiversity through community-led conservation initiatives.
The theme of the International Day of Rural Women highlights the importance of biodiversity conservation, and WISE has been at the forefront of promoting this through our partnerships with grassroots women’s cooperatives, such as KAMAZAU HOPE FOR WOMEN MULTI-PURPOSE COOPERATIVE SOCIETY, SABON GARI PEACE WOMEN INITIATIVE, ZARIA, GOOD SEED WOMEN SABON TASHA, etc. These groups, supported by WISE, are leading efforts to preserve seed varieties, rehabilitate forests, and implement sustainable agricultural methods to protect their natural environment.
GENDER EQUALITY: The Foundation of Empowerment.
WISE firmly believes that gender equality is critical to sustainable development. Empowering rural women not only leads to better environmental outcomes but also strengthens communities as a whole. When women have equal access to resources like land, financial services, and technology, they are better able to manage natural resources, grow their businesses, and invest in their families.
Through our continuous advocacy and programs, WISE helps rural women overcome barriers to participation and leadership in decision-making processes related to land use and environmental conservation. Our work towards gender equality is key to enabling rural women to take charge of their futures and contribute meaningfully to the fight against climate change.
A CALL FOR SUPPORT.
This International Day of Rural Women, WISE celebrates the strength and resilience of rural women who are the unsung heroes in sustaining nature and securing a sustainable future. As we continue to work with women across rural communities, we call on governments, organizations, and the public to increase support for rural women through policies that promote gender equality, access to resources, and environmental justice.
Rural women are the stewards of our collective future. Let us stand with them as they build a climate-resilient, biodiverse, and empowered world for all.
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