How do youth from a pastoral area in Kenya understand and experience social equity in their communities? How do they perceive their capacity to adapt to climate change? This working paper draws on participatory qualitative research conducted in three Endorois indigenous communities in Baringo county to identify entry points that empower young people to advance their lives in ways that they value.

The findings suggest that young men and women perceive their communities as largely equitable — despite facing compounding disadvantages that include climate change and loss of livestock, the mainstay of their livelihoods. They value social equity and fairness, advocating for a balanced approach that prioritises the most vulnerable, treats people equally, and ensures inclusive decision-making guided by competent leaders. Based on these understandings, they emphasise the strength of their village institutions and of their generation’s agency and capabilities.

Nevertheless, the testimonies also reveal significant barriers to achieving equitable climate adaptation, related to the need for greater access to resources and opportunities. Young women, especially, report a deep sense of marginalisation and experience significant gender inequalities, noting their limited participation in the institutions and networks governing decision-making and resource distribution within their households and communities. Despite these challenges, both young women and men in the study had attained education at high school or college level, and felt empowered by their academic achievements. Their aspirations for improving their lives and strengthen their villages’ resilience to climate change offer a basis for optimism.

The study proposes investing in stakeholder capacity, fostering youth leadership and intergenerational exchanges, and developing strategies and partnerships responsive to the needs of rural youth, with particular concern for young women’s inclusion. It underscores the importance of locally-led governance, inclusive decision-making, and collective action as key to achieving equitable climate adaptation and social transformation.

The research presented in this working paper External link, opens in new window. draws on the policy brief Building Locally-Led Adaptation: Rural Kenyan Youth Perspectives on Equity and Resilience External link, opens in new window., which is part of CGIAR’s Research Initiative on Climate Resilience (ClimBeR).