b'Women make up 60% of the subsistence farmers in Kenya, and produce 70% of food in comparison to large-scale farmers. Many men leave the region to find jobs in the city, and typically, agricultural extension services, such as resources and advice, education and information, generally provided by the government, prove insufficient. Drought delivers challenges both economic and environmental; whilst conversely, excessive and erratic rainfall results in dangerous flash floods, eroding gulleys and soil. Climate change has become a prevalent issue threatening the lives and livelihoods of rural women and their communities. In Sub-Saharan Africa, a lack of water management infrastructure, safe drinking water and sanitation services, causes poverty, particularly in rural areas, where 60% of the population resides.Objectives Funding from the SI Presidents Appeal addressed a lack of agricultural efficiency andIn Actionfood security, and looked to improve access to clean water and energy in the counties ofLearning through participation, particularly Nakuru, Kisumu, Kilifi, Machakos, Uasin Gishuduring the vocational training programmes, and Kakamega.was a deliberate approach to achieve objectives. Encouraging commitment, the training was not provided free, and those women unable to contribute monetarily, would be given the opportunity to commit additional time on the project, thus calculated as a contribution to the course. An intensive training programme was offered at the Egerton Agricultural University in Nakuru, to improve sustainability of agricultural A Women, Water & Leadership project waspractices. Bespoke training and materials implemented by SI Clubs in Kenya, and beganwere developed responding to the needs of in December 2017. Contributing to Sustainablewomen farmers, and the course was followed Development Goals (SDG) 1 through to 6, inup by working conferences, encouraging the addition to SDG 13, the project would Educate,sharing of knowledge and experience. Women Empower and Enable 500 women farmers,were taught the value of growing traditional increasing access to clean water, nutritiousvegetables, techniques for production, seed foods, and support the commercialisation ofsowing, and beekeeping. Further skills were farming practices, to generate income and helpgained in agro forestry-principles, water raise villagers out of the poverty trap. A keymanagement, climate-smart agriculture, strategy would be to establish and promotefarming business skills, and in finance. On-ownership, by involving the women throughoutlocation visits to farms provided women with the decision-making process, and all phases ofopportunities for hands-on training, and the project. Supporting the original vision of thebest practices in sustainable farming were Women, Water & Leadership Appeal, womenencouraged, together with irrigation and water would be empowered to take on leadershipsaving training, marketing skills, and post-roles and engage fully in the implementationharvest management techniques.process. soroptimistinternational.org 22'