Presentation given by Lydia Wanjiku, Lensational’s CEO, as part of the NAP Global Network's Peer Learning Summit on Vertical Integration in the NAP Processes, held in Nairobi, Kenya, from October 11 to 13, 2023.

1. Bringing underrepresented women's
voices in planning for climate change
adaptation using participatory
photography
Envisioning Resilience pilot in Kenya and Ghana

2. In May 2021, Lensational, in collaboration with the National Adaptation Plan Global Network (NAP GN) and with financial support
from Global Affairs Canada, launched a training programme to elevate the experiences of women most affected by climate change in
Kenya and Ghana to policy level through photography storytelling.
The main goal for the training was to equip the women with skills and tools to document and share their realities and experiences
with climate change as photo stories. These photo stories would form a basis for dialogue with policy makers at national level on their
priorities for adaptation.
After a six months period of training delivered by a team of experts in photography, climate science and policy a total of thirteen
women, six from Kenya and seven from Ghana successfully completed their photo projects.
Overview
Participants reported feeling a sense of ownership and purpose in the process. The participants also reported feeling more confident
and empowered to use their photography skills to build capacity in their communities for more resilience.
Policy makers have termed the approach as not only innovative but also effective in better informing them in best practices for
developing inclusive and gender-responsive policies.
This initiative has also provided complimentary value for both organisations missions.
For NAP GN, it has provided a platform to enable governments to hear from those on the frontlines of climate change, especially
women. For lensational, it provided a medium through which women's voices can directly reach policy makers. Additionally the
ongoing partnership has resulted in great visibility to Lensational’s work and approach in amplifying voices of underrepresented
women.

3. Our Storytellers
Misper Apawu
GH
Esther Tinayo
KE
Fibi Aloe
GH
Immaculate Pisoi
KE
Emefa Toklo
GH
Claire Metito
KE
Yayra Agor
GH
Catherine Pilale
KE
Dorcas Abban
GH
Grace Ntesio
KE
Belinda Alhassan
GH
Irene Naneu
KE
Jennifer Atinyo
GH

4. In the face of escalating climate-related hardships, women often emerge as
unsung heroes, driving resilience and confronting vulnerabilities head-on.
However, their voices are often sidelined in policy discussions,
Recognising this critical gap, the National Adaptation Plan Global Network
(NAP GN), in addition to supporting countries in their NAP processes, work
to ensure that NAP processes are gender responsive and inclusive. They
acknowledge that grassroots communities hold valuable insights, and
governments are open to hearing from them. Yet, facilitating meaningful
dialogues between these two important groups has often remained a
challenge.
With a profound understanding of the power of storytelling, Lensational
works to amplify the voices of marginalised women. By harnessing the
transformative force of photography, Lensational equips these women with
the skills and tools to document and share their realities and experiences with
the world. However, we recognise that merely providing them with a means
of expression is not enough; it is essential to ensure that these stories reach the
appropriate platforms and decision-making tables.
Photography serves as a profound tool for communication, transcending
barriers of socio-economic status, language, and geography. Through the lens,
these women break free from the constraints that often sideline them and their
captured realities and experiences invite policymakers and the wider public to
speak in a universal language.
The Setting
©Esther Tinayo

5. Through a meticulous selection process, we sought out indigenous Maasai women in Kenya and young aspiring documentary
photographers in Ghana. From this, we handpicked a total of 14 exceptional women—seven from Kenya and seven from Ghana—to
participate in this pioneering training program on photography storytelling for climate adaptation.
The women were chosen not only for their passion but also for their unique perspectives and lived experiences. The indigenous Maasai
women bring forth a deep connection to the land, their cultural heritage, and a firsthand understanding of the effects of climate change
on their communities. Meanwhile, the young photographers from Ghana bring a fresh perspective and a fervent desire to shed light on
the climate challenges faced by their generation.
Over the span of six months, a dedicated team of experts in photography and climate science worked closely with the budding
photographers, guiding them through a series of immersive in-person training workshops.
Through this process, the women were equipped with a well-rounded set of skills, enabling them to create compelling photo projects.
These projects, in turn, served as a foundation to convene adaptation decision makers, including government and non-governmental
stakeholders, for an open in person dialogue and exhibition centered around the participants' photo stories.
The Approach
Brian Siambi, a professional photographer based in Kenya, guiding
Catherine, Grace, and Claire during a workshop in Amboseli
In Tamale, Ghana, professional photographer Francis Kokoroko provides
expert guidance to Jennifer, Belinda, and Dorcas during a workshop

6. Policy Dialogue
©Jojake Kairu
Takeaways

7. Within the shortest possible of time we had the opportunity to travel around
Ghana through pictures, seeing through images different ecological zones and
the impact of climate change in these eco zones.
Antwi-Boasiako Amoah, Deputy Director, Climate Vulnerabilities &
Adaptation, Environmental Protection Agency, Ghana
As someone in the climate space, I have seen a complete cycle of knowledge,
right from climate information that is key for adaptation, I saw the Maasai
spiritual leader advising people to do that; I saw impacts on the ground on
different aspects of livelihoods and lastly we see very innovative ways of
adapting to climate change.
Thomas Lerenten, Director Climate change Directorate Ministry of
Environment, Climate change & Forestry, Kenya

8. “Before this training I did not know that the long
droughts we have been experiencing are as a result
of climate change. Some people believe it's a
punishment from God because of changing our
cultural lifestyle and we simply adapt on our own
level. Now I understand that it is climate change and
I understand that as a woman who is affected, now
armed with these skills to tell my story I have a big
role to play in better informing our government
about this issue and showcasing what our community
is doing in its own small way to overcome the
challenge.”
Claire Metito
In the rangelands of Esiteti Amboseli, Kenya, a fallen tree now rests, a stark symbol of the impact of climate change. The village has
been witnessing the undeniable effects of drought, a direct consequence of this global phenomenon. Once a source of shade for
children's play, a gathering spot for people seeking respite, and a grazing area for young calves, this lifeless tree stands as a premature
casualty, bearing witness to the harsh and unforgiving conditions that have become all too common in our community.
©Claire Metito, The odd contest for a better future.

9. Fibi Aloe, presenting her photo story duting the policy workshop and exhinotion in Ghana.
©Dennis Nipah
"The importance of this program is that it allows
governments and people in local communities to
speak the same language about climate change
and will be used to inform policies."
Antwi-Boasiako Amoah, Deputy Director,
Climate Vulnerabilities & Adaptation,
Environmental Protection Agency, Ghana

10. Patricia Nyingu'ro, climate scientist, shares a lighthearted moment with Cindy as they introduce the
empowering concept of Envisioning Resilience to a group of women in Loita Forest.
© Lydia Wanjiku
"All through my career, I have drawn out
research papers based on science on how
women, especially those in marginalized
communities, are more affected by climate
change. Meeting the participants who are
also an Indigenous community has allowed
me to experience this first hand. It's no
longer something I simply write about, it is
something I have experienced first hand."
Patricia Nyinguro, Climate Scientist
Kenya Meteorological Department
(KMD)

11. Nimoshon and Supuko, co-wives, take on the task of caring for fragile young calves after their husband moves a portion of the herd to find
better grazing areas. Every morning, they lovingly guide the calves to a nearby thicket grass, to graze and in the afternoon, they lead the
vulnerable calves back home. Amboseli, Kenya
© Catherine Pilale, Shoulders of resilience amidst the ravages of drought.
A representative from the State
department of Gender in Kenya
underscored the evident and undeniable
demonstration of gendered impacts of
climate change, particularly on women
and marginalised communities, and
emphasised the need to prioritise the
voices and experiences of these groups
in decision-making processes related to
climate change, in order to ensure that
their needs and rights are adequately
protected and promoted.

12. Prince Acheampong, a 25-year-old street vendor, seeks shelter from the blazing sun. After spending hours selling his
goods under the direct sunlight, these moments of rest become vital for his overall health and well-being.
© Misper Apawu, At the suns Mercy, Accra Ghanaa
"There is one particular group of people we always
forget about. The stories about coastal zones and dry
land are very popular. Those within traffic is
something that people have not actually paid
attention to. It has different assets apart from they
being expose to sunlight and other climate
associated issues, they are also exposed to inhaling
exhaust fumes throughout the day. This is a group
that caught my attention and we need to interrogate
their vulnerability further."
Deputy Director, Climate Vulnerabilities &
Adaptation, Environmental Protection Agency
Ghana, Antwi-boasiako highlighted the discovery
of a group of individuals often overlooked in
discussions about climate impacts through these
stories.

13. Sitei harnesses salty sands with a unique metal tool. Sitei Lemomo, the younger of two wives, defies traditional norms and takes charge of her
family's well-being by embracing various daily wage tasks within her village. She engages in a unique endeavour that involves harnessing and
transporting sacks of sandy salt, that us known as Magadi, to farmers in neigh-boring Tanzania as a way to earn income. Amboseli Kenya
© Catherine Pilale, Shoulders of resilience amidst the ravages of drought
"As a meteorologist, there are so many ways
that we advice and encourage people to
adapt to climate change. From seeing the
women pictures however, I have observed
that community themselves are able to
navigate and adapt to the impacts of
climate change through their unique cultural
practices and knowledge."
Rose Lekalesoi, Kenya Met Department
(KMD)

14. Catherine Pilale, one of the young trained Maasai photographers from Kenya presenting at a policy workshop in Kenya.
© Jojakes Kairu
One very important thing that came out of this creative and innovative way
of communicating is that the message may be common but the way of
packaging it, connects from the local person to the policy makers, filling
the interface of communicating information from the grassroots.
Thomas Lerenten, Director Climate change Directorate Ministry of
Environment, Climate change & Forestry, Kenya

15. Living Climate
Change
©Yayra Agor
Highlights

16. "Living Climate Change," is a compelling collection of thirteen photo essays published on the Lensational website resulting from
the Envisioning Resilience initiative. Through these photo projects, our trained storytellers present their diverse experiences and
perspectives as they confront the challenges of climate change; each individual essay featuring a unique set of photographs, capturing
the essence of daily lives amidst a changing climate.
Why Living Climate Change? you may wonder. The answer lies in the literal reality of the women involved and the people
portrayed in these stories. Climate change is not a distant concept for them; it's a living, breathing part of their existence.
From informal workers working under harsh climatic condition to small-scale farmers working to get a harvest, from residents of
small islands facing the threat of sea level rising to indigenous communities dealing with drought, Living climate change delves into
distinct realities, shedding light on day-to-day lived experiences.
Living Climate Change
”The quality of the photos, given that they were taken by newly trained
photographers, is very impressive, in terms of the composition of the photos, the
variety of subjects depicted, and the emotion captured in some of the images,"
Angie Daze, Director Gender Equality and Social Inclusion,
International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD).
“This is a demonstration of the effectiveness of Lensational’s training process, as well
as the skills of the photographers providing the training.”

17. A birds-eye view of Azizakpey Island, situated in the Ada East District of Ghana. Surrounded by the Volta River.
With sea levels steadily rising, this biodiverse island grapples with the repercussions of accelerated coastal erosion, resulting in the gradual
disappearance and destruction of the very elements it has relied upon for preservation over countless centuries
© Emefa Toklo, Waking up to water in Azizakpey. Ada, Ghana

18. Prince Acheampong, a 25-year-old street vendor, seeks shelter from the blazing sun. As the centre for economic activities, Accra, the capital of Ghana
is affected by the heat island effect. After spending hours selling his goods under the direct sunlight, these moments of rest become vital for his
overall health and well-being.
© Misper Apawu, At the suns Mercy, Accra Ghana

19. Holla, a determined 14-year-old student in her final year at Seventh Day Adventist (S.D.A) school, faces the challenge of traversing flooded roads
during the rainy season in Taha, Nothern Ghana. Taha is a fast growing suburb, and has seen a rapid influx of people. But this rapid influx has meant
that proper planning has been neglected, and houses like this one have been built with no provision for water drainage, despite flooding being a
recurrent problem here.
© Jennifer Atinyo, Urban planning and extreme flooding., Taha Ghana

20. A young girl stands face to face with a cow at a shared water point. This young girl's family are drawing water for their home at a water point where
cattle were also drinking. This seemingly innocent standoff between the young girl and the cow carries profound symbolism, representing the
struggle for a better future amidst resource competition. As drought impacts their mainstay, the Maasai families face a difficult choice between
sustaining their livestock and accessing education for their children.
©Claire Metito, An odd contest for a better future. Amboseli Kenya

21. A young farmer Sopiato examines the yield of a her crop field. A closer look at the beans on the sack show more chaff and dirt than actual beans. She
made the choice to sow only in a small area of her land this year, to avoid major losses. All together, she has only been able to produce a sack of beans,
and even then, poor quality ones, affected by poor rainfall. On the highlands of Amboseli, Murtot a once fertile, and oftentimes green region is now
feeling effects of unpredictable rainfall.
© Esther Tinayo, The search for a good harvest, Murtot Amboseli Kenya.

22. Mrs. Abibatu, a widowed mother of four, tends to her crops. Rising temperatures have unleashed a surge of crop-damaging pests, most notably army
worms, causing substantial losses in her harvest and reduced yields. Balancing her farming endeavours with household chores and childcare
responsibilities presents additional challenges, impacting how effectively she can care for her farm's needs
© Belinda Alhasaan, Small scale women farmers in Kumbungu District

23. Kawusada a young girl, tills a drought-ravaged land belonging to her mother in Yelpasi, Nothern Ghana. The once fertile and thriving land is now
barren, and the few surviving crops are reduced to small stumps and twigs sticking out of the ground. Previously, the family grew tomato and pepper
plants that bore enough for them to sell in the Tamale market. With the lack of rainfall and no way to irrigate, the crops have perished, and the
family now makes weekly trips to Navrongo, a different region, in search of produce to sell.
© Dorcas Abban The farmers forced to migrate.

24. Remains of abandoned homes in Agorkedzi.
Coastal erosion has led to flooding, and it is
flooding, which has led to the destruction of
properties, here. The problem of coastal erosion
has been affecting the coast of Ada for more than
30 years, The residents of Agorkedzi are now
questioning whether there is any future possible on
their island, and are left wondering at night
whether the next tide coming in will be the one
destroying their home.
© Yayra Agor, Home is now away: The
disappearing coastof Agorkedzi

25. A young Maasai woman loads up heavy wooden logs on a grass thatched roof to support it against strong winds. Her arms are adorned with Maasai
jewellery. This image represents the strength of women in Ekong Narok, Amboseli Kenya, who are keeping their homes safe from strong winds, and
shielding them from feeling the impacts of drought.
© Grace Ntesio, Rebuilding after the storm.

26. Sitei harnesses salty sands with a unique metal tool. Sitei Lemomo, the younger of two wives, defies traditional norms and takes charge of her family's
well-being by embracing various daily wage tasks within her village. She engages in a unique endeavour that involves harnessing and transporting
sacks of sandy salt, that us known as Magadi, to farmers in neigh-boring Tanzania as a way to earn income. Undeterred by the distance, she embarks
on arduous journeys that span several days, traversing rugged terrain to fulfill her commitments. Sitei's resilience and initiative epitomize the
strength of women in the community as they navigate economic challenges in drought seasons."
© Catherine Pilale, Shoulders of resilience amidst the ravages of drought

27. Chief Laibon of the Maasai Mokompo Ole Simel. The Laibon is a spiritual and cultural leader, a rainmaker who currently lives in Loita Forest.
Mokompo is the guardian of the Loita Forest and is strongly opposed to land demarcation, which would mean that each household gets a specific
piece of land. He believes demarcation, rather than community ownership, will exacerbate the effects of climate change, as there won't be clear
boundaries anymore, and people will devalue his authority. According to Mokompo, the drought is being caused by people increasingly lacking
respect for the forest, and cutting down trees.
© Immaculate Pisoi, Navigating drought in the plains and highlands of Loita Forest.

28. Two elderly women explain how a lack of knowledge about the environment is impacting the community. Peninah and Nalang’u are very close
friends. Nalang'u explains that people who are negligent with their lands, for example by clearing trees without replanting more, end up with their
land dried up. She further explains that dry land leads to conflicts, as people are urged to trespass into other land to find pasture for their cattle.
© Irene Naneu, Changing lifestyles in the face of drought, Melili, Narok Kenya

29. A sprinkler system waters vegetables on a farm. Rooted in the heart of the Dzorwulu community, near Accra, this family-owned farm has
thrived under the stewardship of Yussifu Buramah and his sons, Aliwu and Bashiru, for 25 years. Yussif has passed down his knowledge to his
two sons Bashiru and Aliwu all the skills they need in order to run the farm full time. The brothers have installed a sprinkler system that they
used to mainly water seedlings, and younger vegetables.
© Fibi Aloe, The changing face of urban farming.

30. In the enchanting world captured within these pages, a powerful narrative unfolds, revealing the true essence of meaningful
participation for women in adaptation planning. It is an extraordinary journey where the art of photography intertwines
seamlessly wit the art of decision-making. As we delve into the profound stories shared by these thirteen extraordinary
women, a resounding truth emerges: resilience is not merely a quality bestowed upon the fortunate; it is an embodiment of
agency—an individual's resolute determination to take purposeful action and shape their own destiny amidst adversity. We
witness the decisions these women make at an individual and community level, and how these choices resonate at the
national policy-making level.
The impact of these narratives on policymakers is undeniable. They serve as a compelling testament to the pivotal role
women play in driving positive change across all tiers of society. These stories implore policymakers to reevaluate and re-
calibrate their priorities in adaptation planning, They implore these decision-makers to acknowledge that progress truly
thrives when women's perspectives and contributions are at its core.
Conclusion

31. Acknowledgements
Project team: Lucile Stengel, Vera Aquah, David Hoffmann, Angie Daze,
Lydia Wanjiku
Consultants: Brian Siambi, Patricia Nying'uro, Rodney Quarcoo, Geoffrey
Buta, Francis Kokoroko, Ofoe Amegavie.