Empowering the periphery: Women’s grassroots environmental governance in post-conflict Liberia and climate-stressed Kenya

Women’s participation in environmental governance is essential for sustainable resource management and peacebuilding, yet systemic barriers continue to limit their influence. This paper examines the role of women in environmental governance and its impact on peacebuilding, using Liberia and Kenya as case studies. Using a qualitative comparative case study approach, the study draws on peer-reviewed literature, policy documents and reports, as well as organizational records to explore how women’s participation shapes climate resilience and conflict resolution. In Liberia, policy-driven approaches, including Community Forest Management Agreements and land tenure reforms, have expanded formal opportunities for women’s participation in environmental governance in the post-conflict period. In Kenya, grassroots movements such as the Green Belt Movement and pastoralist women’s mediation initiatives illustrate how women mobilize environmental action and local dispute-management practices under climate stress. Drawing from Feminist Political Ecology and Environmental Peacebuilding Theory, this study highlights the interplay between gender, sustainability, and peace. The paper recommends strengthening legal frameworks, scaling up women-led initiatives, enhancing multi-level collaboration, and integrating grassroots activism into formal governance to foster inclusive environmental governance and long-term peace.