How the Gender Project Is Empowering Alice to Lead in Politics and Climate Action

How the Gender Project Is Empowering Alice to Lead in Politics and Climate Action

In Fuluma Parish, Butta Sub-county of Manafwa District, Alice Wabule is emerging as a powerful voice for change. An aspiring District Councillor and the Chairperson of Fuluma Yetaana Savings and Credit Association, Alice is one of the women whose leadership journey has been strengthened through the Advancing Gender Equality for Climate Change Resilience project, implemented by Mount Elgon Tree Growing Enterprise (METGE) with support from Size of Wales and funding from the Welsh Government

For Alice, leadership did not begin with politics ,it grew from community engagement, collective action, and the confidence to speak out. Before participating in the project’s gender training, she, like many women in rural communities, faced social and cultural barriers that limited women’s participation in decision-making spaces.

“The training helped me believe in myself,” Alice shares. “I learned that my voice matters, and that women have a right and responsibility to take part in leadership and development.”

Building Confidence Through Gender Training

Through targeted gender training under the project, Alice gained the skills and confidence to engage communities, articulate local priorities, and stand firm in leadership spaces often dominated by men. These trainings emphasized women’s rights, inclusive governance, climate leadership, and the importance of women’s participation in decision-making at all levels.

Today, Alice is actively mobilizing communities around savings, environmental conservation, and development initiatives. Inspired by the training, she has taken the bold step of aspiring to represent her people at the district level, where she hopes to advocate for inclusive, community-driven development that addresses both social and environmental challenges.

Why Women’s Leadership Matters

Women’s participation in political and development decision-making is not just a matter of equality.it is essential for sustainable development and climate resilience. Women are often the primary managers of natural resources at household and community levels, giving them unique insights into climate impacts and practical solutions.

When women lead, communities benefit from more inclusive, equitable, and long-term outcomes. Leaders like Alice ensure that development initiatives respond to real community needs while safeguarding natural resources for future generations.

Women Leading Environmental Action

Alice’s leadership story reflects a broader transformation taking place across METGE’s operational areas. Through its environmental and livelihood programmes, METGE actively promotes women’s leadership in climate action.

Currently, METGE supports 24 community tree nurseries producing approximately 3.2 million seedlings annually. Many of these nurseries are managed and led by women, strengthening both environmental stewardship and household incomes. Out of 35 trained Tree Nursery Operators, 17 are women, and 13 nurseries are women-led clear evidence that investing in women delivers measurable impact.

These women are not just beneficiaries; they are drivers of change, restoring degraded landscapes, supporting reforestation efforts, and building climate-resilient livelihoods across the Mount Elgon region.

Leadership That Transforms Communities

For Alice, the journey from community advocate to aspiring district leader is deeply connected to environmental action and social inclusion. Her story shows how empowering women through targeted training and opportunities creates ripple effects stronger leadership, healthier ecosystems, and more resilient communities.

“I want to represent people who are often unheard especially women,” Alice says. “When women are included, development becomes stronger and more sustainable.”

By supporting women’s leadership in both political spaces and environmental action, METGE and its partners are helping to build stronger communities and resilient landscapes across the Mount Elgon region one woman leader at a time.