Women leaders supported in sustainable natural resource management

The main objective of this activity was to highlight women's skills — often overlooked — in the area of natural resource governance, while strengthening their role within community organizations. Through interactive exchanges, five women's organizations from the municipality were mobilized, each represented by around fifteen members.

Participants were guided through a collective reflection on the concept of women's leadership in sustainable natural resource management. Together, they defined the essential characteristics of a woman leader: having a vision, developing a strategy, persuading, communicating clearly, inspiring trust, and acting with integrity. These criteria then served as the basis for participatively designating two to five women leaders per organization. This exercise made it possible not only to identify promising women's profiles, but also to strengthen a shared understanding of the issues surrounding the sustainable and equitable use of natural resources. By recognizing these women leaders, le projet RÉELS contributes to women's empowerment, their greater recognition within local bodies, and more inclusive governance of natural resources. This participatory approach also serves as a lever for strengthening social cohesion and community resilience in the face of the effects of climate change in the Liptako Gourma region.

At the close of the workshop, the identified women leaders will be supported and equipped to play an active role in natural resource management committees and groups — an important step toward building lasting, equitable, and hopeful local solutions for the future.

The RÉELS project is implemented by CECI and its partners (IUCN, CIFOR/ICRAF, WILDAF) with financial support from the Government of Canada through Global Affairs Canada.