Huairou Commission

10/11/2026

Across communities, care is the invisible glue holding society together. Every day, grassroots women carry out immense physical, emotional, and social labor that sustains local economies and families. Yet, this vital work is frequently overlooked and left out of official policy discussions.
As the Huairou Commission, we know that storytelling allows us to make our hidden labor visible and prove that grassroots leadership is the ultimate driver of change for the International Day of Care and Support on October 29.
By stepping forward, we shape the global narrative instead of letting others speak for us, placing our lived experiences, demands, and solutions at the center. Documenting our community action creates a powerful visual portrait of the people behind everyday care. Ultimately, telling our story is about demanding the recognition, respect, and structural support grassroots women have always deserved.

09/13/2026

Jennipher Kabinga: Bridging the Legacy of Grassroots Leadership

The "Building Bridges" convening held in Mombasa in February 2026 marked a historic turning point for the Huairou Commission, driven by the vision of seasoned leaders like Jennipher Kabinga. As a cornerstone of the Circles of Hope Support Group, Jennipher has dedicated her career to the intersection of health and climate change, turning decades of front-line experience into a structured roadmap for the future. Her leadership during this Ford Foundation-supported initiative was instrumental in transforming the political wisdom gained from past food security and HIV/AIDS battles into a formal system of intergenerational mentorship.

Jennipher Kabinga is redefining grassroots leadership by transitioning from age-based youth labels to a "continuous identity" of emerging leadership. By merging deep community presence with digital advocacy, she ensures local voices influence global policy. Through the Circles of Hope Support Group, she formalizes mentorship between mature and emerged leaders like Monica Nkhuwa, replacing the tradition of personal sacrifice with a Social Compact that prioritizes mental health and collective care. As a guardian of institutional memory, Jennipher’s commitment to building bridges ensures that no woman walks alone, securing a resilient, self-sustaining leadership cycle for the Huairou Commission.

08/30/2026

Empowering Tomorrow's Leaders Today!

Seke Rural Home Based Care hosted an impactful Community Youth Day, bringing together young minds from across the community for an inspiring session focused on leadership and youth empowerment. The event provided a platform for young people to build essential life skills, discuss community development, and discover how their voices can drive positive, sustainable change in rural areas.

Participants gained practical guidance on decision-making, initiative, and peer mentoring to build their leadership skills. Through interactive discussions, youth explored strategies for overcoming local challenges, identifying growth opportunities, and creating resilient communities. The day served as a safe, dedicated space for young people to network, share innovative ideas, and collaborate on grass-root solutions.

Investing in young people equips entire communities for long-term growth. Thank you to everyone who participated, facilitated, and supported this powerful initiative!

08/23/2026

On June 5th, UCOBAC joined forces with 200 learners 150 girls and 50 boys at Namagonjo Primary School in Bugiri District to commemorate World Menstrual Hygiene Day under the global theme, "Together for a Period-Friendly World."

Breaking silence, shattering myths, and tearing down stigma start right in the classroom. Boys and girls stood together to demand a school environment where menstruation is met with support, proper education, and practical resources never shame.

Through hands-on skills, essential product distribution, and strong commitments from local teachers, we are ensuring that no girl misses school, loses confidence, or compromises her dignity because of her period.

When we equip youth with knowledge and resources, we build a future where every girl can learn, grow, and thrive safely. 🌍💪

08/15/2026

Celebrating the extraordinary journey and enduring impact of Pauline Kariuki a true champion for women’s empowerment, climate action, and community leadership!
From her early days in Kajiado establishing the Bidii Women Group to her international advocacy with GROOTS Kenya and the Huairou Commission, Pauline has consistently demonstrated that grassroots women are primary drivers of lasting, systemic change.
Key Highlights of Her Legacy:
Grassroots Roots & Early Innovation: Inspired by her mother, Maria Nduta, Pauline founded the Bidii Women Group in 1994, introducing table-banking, sustainable agriculture, and handicraft production, ultimately winning multiple national and presidential awards.
Systemic Empowerment: As the founder and Executive Director of the Rural Women Network Kenya (RWN), she structured programs around financial literacy and leadership, empowering rural women to step into key governance roles across school boards, water committees, and agricultural cooperatives.
Climate Action & SDG Recognition: Under her leadership, RWN earned national acclaim at the SDGs Kenya Forum 2023 for SDG 6 (Clean Water & Sanitation) through community-led rainwater harvesting and water source conservation.
Policy Reform & Global Reach: Serving on boards such as ASNET and KENAFF, Pauline bridged rural community needs with national policy shaping frameworks like the National Poultry Policy and representing grassroots voices at the United Nations CSW and CSD.
Pauline Kariuki’s life work proves that when you invest in grassroots women, you transform entire communities and nations.

08/10/2026

"Building Climate Resilience Through Livelihoods: What Really Works for Women and Vulnerable Communities"

Suranjana Gupta, Special Advisor on Community Resilience at the Huairou Commission, shares candid reflections on what women-focused climate investment really means - and what it risks getting wrong.

Speaking about the Huairou Commission's work through the Community Resilience Fund, the ADB-supported Community Resilience Partnership Programme, and the Green Accountability Initiative, she makes the case that investments in livelihoods and enterprise must go hand-in-hand with grassroots women's empowerment and leadership, not just channel funds through women without giving them control. She highlights the strength of women-led cooperatives and revolving funds, the tension between compliance and solidarity, and why financial institutions should co-design products with the grassroots organizations that have been managing community finance for decades.

🎥 Full video on our YouTube: https://youtu.be/vaivBAwjMl0?si=oC9q12_7rleCL0lZ

Video Credit: Asian Development Bank

"Building Climate Resilience Through Livelihoods: What Really Works...

08/04/2026

"A moradia é a porta de entrada para outros direitos."

Essa é a mensagem central de uma nova publicação no blog da União dos Movimentos de Moradia (UMMSP) — uma rede integrante da Huairou Commission sediada em São Paulo, Brasil — sobre o que é realmente necessário para construir a prestação de contas (accountability) a partir da base em um movimento urbano pautado em direitos.

O modelo da UMMSP é exemplar: trata-se de um movimento aberto e autogestionado, no qual cada integrante pode acompanhar todas as decisões — aquisição de terrenos, avaliações técnicas, fontes de financiamento — por meio de relatórios mensais e assembleias regionais. No entanto, o texto vai além e desafia o setor a repensar o que a "participação inclusiva" realmente exige: acessibilidade, tempo, materiais traduzidos e apoio efetivo — e não apenas números de presença.

A reivindicação não se limita a melhores condições de habitação. Trata-se de uma política habitacional construída sob uma perspectiva explícita de gênero e raça, sistemas de saúde pública antirracistas, proteção para trabalhadores informais e espaço real para mulheres negras nas decisões sobre políticas urbanas.

🧷Leia a publicação completa aqui: https://huairou.org/2026/06/18/moradia-e-a-porta-de-entrada-para-outros-direitos-como-a-uniao-dos-movimentos-de-moradia-umm-sp-transforma-a-luta-em-responsabilidade/

07/31/2026

🤝 Big news: The Huairou Commission and UN-Habitat have signed a renewed Memorandum of Understanding, reaffirming our partnership to advance grassroots women's leadership in human settlements.

Signed on July 15, 2026 in New York by Ms. Violet Shivutse (HC Global Governing Council Chair) and Ms. Anacláudia Rossbach (UN-Habitat Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director), this MoU builds on a relationship dating back to 2009 - and sets the stage for the next four years of collaboration.

Together, we'll continue working on:
🏘️ Community and women-led housing and slum upgrading
🌍 Equal access to land rights
💧 Women-led basic services
🗳️ Women's leadership in local decision-making
🌱 Community-led climate action and urban crisis response
📊 Local, gender-disaggregated data

This partnership stands behind what grassroots women already know and do — leading the solutions their communities need.

07/28/2026

"Women are no longer mere beneficiaries of programmes. Women are leaders in climate change adaptation efforts – and we have proven this at local levels."

At the opening of Asian Development Bank's Community Resilience Partnership Program (CRPP) Forum 2026, Ika Rachmani - grassroots woman leader from YAKKUM Emergency Unit, Indonesia and Huairou Commission member - delivered a powerful message: women aren't waiting to be included in climate action. They're already leading it.

Speaking for women's networks with over a decade of experience responding to climate risks and disasters, Ika called for a shift away from top-down programmes toward processes built from the grassroots - where women sit as equal partners, not just participants.

🔗 Read the full blog on our website: https://huairou.org/2026/06/18/women-are-leaders-not-beneficiaries-a-grassroots-voice-at-the-crpp-forum-2026/

07/23/2026

Beneficiary Focus (Highlighting Community Impact)
When we support care providers, the impact doesn't stop with one person it lifts entire families and communities!

According to our latest surveyed frontline initiatives:
40% reach up to 200 indirect household beneficiaries per program.
Over 33% reach between 200 and 1,000+ indirect beneficiaries!

Through grassroots action, we are directly advancing SDG 1 (No Poverty) and SDG 3 (Good Health & Well-being) across our regional households.

Together, local care creates regional change.