Foro Global sobre Seguridad Alimentaria y Nutrición (Foro FSN)

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Dr. Esther Muindi

Miembro desde
Organización: Pwani University
País: Kenya
Campo(s) de especialización:
I am working on:

Training agricultural extension officers, community leaders and farmers on farmer field school methodology application in Dairy, poultry, potato and banana value chains to ensure food security for covid resilience. I am also engaged in formulation of bio fertilizer using bioslurry and agrowastes to be used in potato value chains and project aimed at post mining reclamation through cropping systems in the coastal areas of Kenya.

Este miembro contribuyó a:

    • From my few years experience as a teacher within institutions of higher learning; trainer for both government and private sector field officers and rural communities through conventional and FFS methodology, as well as personal journey as a woman scientist in the area of climate change and food security, has enabled me to understand the following: 

      1. Rural men and women require capacity building more than financial aid. The capacity building should not capitalise on women and girls but include both genders. This is because when we empower women and leave out men, women don't stay in isolation and their development will be slowed down and even stopped by their male counterparts. That means, if we really need to empower our girls and women, men should be part and parcel of all the programs. Once the man is empowered and knows what women and girls need, he will provide support to the women in his house and community even if it is just "peace of mind alone" and women will flourish because women play the driving role in most food security issues within our societies.

      2. Members of rural communities work differently from urban residents. In the rural areas people like working as a group. One day training might not be adequate considering their education levels and cultural differences. It would be effective if the trainings/mentorship consider a training format which is experiential and long term with followup sessions. Bringing up mentors from the local leadership to continue the mentorship process can work better than one time mentorship and financing then after few years everything is long forgotten.

      3. Rural girls and women are powerful (despite their education levels), they are very receptive to empowerment but the empowerment process needs to be gradual and sustainable. Gate keepers needs to be fought first through empowerment rather than rules and regulations.