At the United Nations this week, Kenya’s First Lady Rachel Ruto joined her counterparts from across Africa to confront a challenge they say can no longer be ignored: the rising toll of climate change on women and girls.
Speaking at the launch of a continent-wide campaign on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York, Mrs Ruto called for policies that both protect women and give them a voice in shaping solutions.
“Women are not just victims of crisis,” she told delegates. “They are architects of resilience, and their voices must shape solutions.”
The initiative, led by the Organisation of African First Ladies for Development, is framed as a call to action rather than another round of speeches. Its focus is on resilience—ensuring that women and girls, often first to suffer from the effects of climate shocks, are also central to the continent’s response.
The stakes are clear. Across the Sahel alone, more than five million women and girls face climate-linked hardships: dwindling incomes, early school dropouts, and increased exposure to violence. Similar pressures stretch from the Horn of Africa to the Great Lakes.
“Although Africa contributes less than four per cent of global emissions, our continent bears the heaviest burden of climate repercussions,” said Selma Haddadi, Deputy Chair of the African Union Commission. “Climate change has become a multiplier of crises… and women are paying the highest price.”
Others echoed that message. Prof Senait Fisseha of the Susan Thompson Buffett Foundation urged urgency: “We can and must do better for African women and girls. Addressing gender-based violence, conflict and exclusion is central to our shared responsibility.”
Faatima Bio, President of the First Ladies’ organisation, described the campaign as “a movement.” Women, she said, are not only on the front lines of hardship but also of action. “Together, we are committed to protecting vital services, promoting inclusion, and ensuring that no girl faces exclusion or violence.”
For Mrs Ruto, the campaign is part of a broader push for climate justice, especially as Africa prepares for next year’s COP30 summit. Her message was clear: if women are most exposed to the crisis, they must also be at the centre of solutions.
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