Strengthening Gender Equality and Safeguarding Across Conservation Landscapes

Promoting gender equality, safeguarding and inclusive participation is essential to creating safe and respectful workplaces and programmes. Through our Gender, Safeguarding and Leadership Department, The Maa Trust continues to support initiatives that strengthen awareness, build capacity and promote the protection and wellbeing of individuals and communities.

These efforts contribute to our commitment to ensuring that women, men, girls and boys can participate meaningfully in community development and conservation while accessing safe and inclusive environments.

Strengthening Gender Mainstreaming and Safeguarding at Mara Elephant Project

As part of these efforts, a gender mainstreaming and safeguarding training was conducted for staff at Mara Elephant Project, reaching 89 staff members, comprising 76 men and 13 women.

The training aimed to strengthen staff understanding of gender equality, gender mainstreaming and safeguarding while promoting safe, inclusive and respectful workplaces and programmes.

Participants explored key concepts relating to gender and sex, gender equality and equity, gender norms and stereotypes, masculinities and gender-based violence. Discussions examined how social and cultural expectations influence opportunities, roles, participation and decision-making for women and men.

Staff were also encouraged to reflect on gender dynamics within leadership and the workplace, including women's participation, leadership opportunities, work-life balance and the role of men in supporting gender equality.

The session on gender mainstreaming emphasised the importance of integrating gender considerations throughout programme planning and implementation. Participants explored how gender analysis can help identify different needs, roles, opportunities, risks and barriers, and how this information can inform more inclusive and gender-responsive interventions.

The safeguarding session reinforced the principle that safeguarding is everyone's responsibility. Participants explored the relationship between power, identity and vulnerability, as well as factors that can increase safeguarding risks within workplaces and programmes.

The training also covered three key safeguarding pillars: prevention, reporting and response. Staff were guided on how to appropriately receive and respond to safeguarding concerns, including listening actively, providing support, maintaining appropriate confidentiality and following established reporting and referral procedures.

Through participatory case studies, group discussions and practical examples, participants were able to relate the concepts to their workplace and programme activities. The discussions encouraged staff to identify potential gender and safeguarding risks and consider practical measures for promoting safer and more inclusive working environments.

Understanding Safeguarding Needs Among Rangers

In a related effort, a safeguarding baseline assessment was conducted with 43 rangers, comprising 19 women and 24 men, from Mara Ripoi, Enoonkishu and Olkinyei Conservancies.

The assessment sought to understand rangers' knowledge of safeguarding, gender equality, workplace safety, reporting and referral mechanisms, and training needs.

The findings showed that while rangers recognised the importance of safeguarding, their knowledge of safeguarding systems and procedures remained limited. Reporting and referral mechanisms were largely informal, highlighting the need for strengthened systems and continued capacity building.

Rangers also identified workplace safety risks and gender-related challenges, particularly affecting female rangers.

Participants expressed strong support for regular safeguarding and gender training, confidential reporting mechanisms and the appointment of safeguarding champions.

The findings will inform future capacity-building initiatives and help strengthen safeguarding systems across the conservancies.

Strengthening Child Protection Through School-Based Evidence

In a related effort, The Maa Trust convened a school baseline dissemination meeting with Heads of Institutions, school representatives, government agencies and education stakeholders to discuss findings from an assessment covering 32 schools and 17,412 learners.

The baseline recorded 226 school dropouts across two academic years, comprising 168 girls and 58 boys. Poverty and school fee challenges were identified by 70.4% of reporting schools as contributing factors.

Stakeholders also highlighted gaps in child protection reporting and referral systems, pointing to the need for stronger coordination between schools, families and relevant government institutions.

Recommendations included stronger school attendance monitoring, improved coordination, confidential reporting channels and targeted support for vulnerable learners.

The findings provide an important evidence base for strengthening school retention, safeguarding and inclusive education across the area.

Looking Ahead

The Maa Trust will continue working with conservation partners, community institutions and government stakeholders to strengthen gender-responsive programming and safeguarding systems.

Priorities include continued capacity building, improved reporting and referral mechanisms, strengthened workplace safety and greater participation of women in leadership and decision-making.

Through these efforts, we aim to contribute to conservation landscapes where everyone can participate safely, confidently and meaningfully.