Lamu County stands at a critical crossroads facing the harsh impacts of climate change, ongoing security challenges, and persistent gender inequality. These overlapping pressures form a complex crisis that disproportionately affects the county’s most vulnerable, particularly women, who, despite their central roles in community resilience, remain underrepresented in decision-making and under-resourced in climate action.

Recognizing these urgent gaps, a new initiative titled BUILDING CLIMATE FUTURES IN LAMU has been launched, implemented by LAWA and supported by SOUTH SOUTH NORTH under the umbrella of the VOICES FOR JUST CLIMATE ACTION (VCA) program. 

Taking on climate challenges in Lamu, the climate crisis is not just an environmental issue it is deeply intertwined with social and political realities. Rising sea levels, shifting weather patterns, and ecosystem degradation threaten livelihoods, particularly those dependent on natural resources. Yet, while women play vital roles in managing resources, sustaining households, and leading grassroots climate action, they are often left out of formal climate planning, financing, and governance processes.

A major gap fueling this exclusion is the lack of documented evidence, there is minimal structured data or research capturing the specific climate risks, vulnerabilities, and resilience strategies across Lamu, especially from a gender perspective. Without this information, local organizations struggle to advocate effectively, influence policy, or secure funding to implement locally led solutions.

This project therefore seeks to bridge these gaps through a targeted, data-driven, and gender-responsive approach. The project’s key objectives include:

To capture and showcase the challenges faced by women – led climate initiatives in Lamu county through a documentary.

To conduct a mapping exercise covering the ten wards in Lamu, identifing critical climate risks and opportunities for intervention. 

To use the findings from the documentary and mapping to push for more inclusive climate policies at local and national levels.

To highlight the contributions of women in climate mitigation efforts and ensure they are actively included in decision- making processes.

“Building Climate Futures in Lamu County” is a step toward transforming how climate action is conceived and practiced at the local level. It offers a model for how vulnerable regions can build resilience by centering the knowledge and leadership of their most affected populations. As the project unfolds, it promises to deliver not only critical insights but also pathways toward a more just, equitable, and climate-resilient Lamu.