IWD 25: Celebrating the Under Dogs’ of Climate Action
#POWERWOMEN Campaign
It’s the break of dawn in Michika, a town in Northern Nigeria, Dorcas, a smallholder farmer, steps onto her parched field, scanning the horizon for signs of rain that may never come. The once-predictable seasons have turned erratic, making it harder to grow food, provide for her family, and sustain her livelihood. Yet, despite these challenges, she and countless other African women are not just surviving the climate crisis—they are leading efforts to combat it.
Across the continent, women are at the frontlines of climate change, bearing the brunt of extreme weather, water shortages, and food insecurity. In many African communities, women are responsible for securing water, firewood, and food. These are resources that climate change is rapidly depleting. What remains overlooked in mainstream climate discussions is the role these women play in crafting solutions in their local communities. From innovating in sustainable agriculture and renewable energy to driving policy advocacy and grassroots mobilization, African women are leading the charge for environmental resilience.
Structural barriers such as gender biases, limited access to financial resources, and underrepresentation in decision-making spaces continue to sideline African women in global climate discussions. As the world races toward addressing climate change, we must ask ourselves: How can we shift the narrative to ensure that African women are not just participants in climate spaces, but recognized pioneers of change?
#POWERWomen Campaign: African Women Leading Climate Solutions
Mainstream media often overlook contributions of African women driving climate solutions in the most innovative and impactful ways across the continent. From tackling plastic waste and reversing deforestation, to revolutionizing sustainable energy, these women are proving that climate leadership is not just about talks and vision but about REAL action.
Nigeria
Rita Idehai led Ecobarter to build Africa's first locally made, automated waste collection machine, the Reverse Vending Machine (RVM). This innovative solution addresses waste management by rewarding users with incentives, like cash, in exchange for collected waste. Each RVM installed has helped recover over 10,000 plastic bottles in just one month. As Nigeria struggles with a mounting waste crisis, her work with Ecobarter offers a practical, scalable solution to keep plastics out of the environment while encouraging responsible waste management.
Senegal
Mariama Djambony Badji is pioneering eco-friendly construction using raw earth building techniques. Her startup DNA SNARL combines sustainability with affordability, creating durable structures while reducing reliance on environmentally harmful materials like cement. As climate-induced disasters displace communities across Africa, her work offers a resilient, climate-conscious solution to housing. DNA SARL not only builds but also trains local workers, creating green jobs and expanding knowledge about eco-friendly construction. Mariama's goal is to expand sustainable building practices throughout West Africa, incorporating innovative techniques and materials that reduce environmental impacts while promoting local craftsmanship and job creation.
South Africa
Mahlatse Mamaila, a former financial advisor from Limpopo, transitioned to biodiesel production during the COVID-19 pandemic after learning about its role in global decarbonization. Seeing the potential to address high fuel prices and support rural food vendors, she founded Ino Biodiesel, which collects, processes, and converts used cooking oil into biodiesel. Beyond fuel production, Mamaila collaborates with women farmers in Limpopo to grow crops for oil, enhancing food security and creating a sustainable supply chain. By transforming waste oil into clean energy, she is driving both environmental sustainability and economic empowerment in South Africa.
Nigeria
Lauritta Boniface in her effort to create a sustainable future has married innovation with education. As Executive Director of Ecocykle, she co-led her team to build toilets for public schools in Nassarawa using plastic bottles in 2022.The bottles were gotten from the company’s waste recovery efforts through household and commercial recycling. The next year, Ecocykle designed the first climate action education card game in Nigeria, a fun learning tool that is currently promoting climate education in 500 sub-urban and local communities in six (6) African countries, inspiring climate action and redefining sustainability.
Zimbabwe
On the frontlines of wildlife conservation, Nyaradzo Hoto led an all-female anti-poaching unit in Zimbabwe, proving that environmental justice is also about protecting biodiversity. In a field traditionally dominated by men, she and her team are safeguarding endangered species and preserving ecosystems that are vital to the planet’s health. Operating in northern Zimbabwe, Akashinga is the world's only female-led anti-poaching squad, setting a powerful example for wildlife protection and gender empowerment.
Nigeria
South Africa
Ndia Magadagela is the co-founder and CEO of Everlectric. The startup is the first South African business to package leading international electric vehicles, charging infrastructure & innovative finance solutions that remove the hurdles to adopting sustainable mobility. Under her leadership, Everlectric is breaking barriers to cleaner and more efficient transportation in South Africa. Ndia helps businesses align with sustainability goals by providing practical strategies to reduce their carbon footprint. Through Everlectric, she is driving South Africa’s transition to greener transportation.
Kenya
Mary Nyaruai Mureithi is the founder of Nyungu Afrika, a social enterprise tackling period poverty through circular design. The company produces biodegradable, non-toxic sanitary pads made from agricultural waste like pineapple leaves and corn husks, providing a sustainable alternative to conventional plastic-based pads.
Beyond offering eco-friendly period products, Nyungu Afrika integrates local communities into the value chain—creating opportunities as entrepreneurs, employees, suppliers, and health educators. By turning underutilized waste into essential hygiene products, Mary is revolutionizing menstrual health while promoting sustainability and economic empowerment in Africa.
Nigeria
Yewande Akinse led the development and scaling of Salubata’s modular shoes, made from recycled plastic waste, which has significantly impacted communities by reducing plastic pollution and promoting sustainability. By transforming waste into durable, stylish footwear with interchangeable uppers, she has empowered individuals to make eco-conscious choices while supporting a circular economy. Additionally, this initiative has created jobs in recycling and manufacturing, contributing to economic empowerment in underserved communities. Through this solution, they have not only addressed environmental challenges but also inspired a shift toward sustainable living, proving that innovation can drive both social and environmental impact.
Morrocco
Dr. Jamila Bargach is a scholar and activist who co-founded Dar Si Hmad, a women-led NGO in Morocco that operates the world's largest fog water harvesting system. This innovative project provides portable water to over 400 people in five villages in the drought-stricken Anti-Atlas mountains, offering a sustainable solution to water scarcity. As a professor at the National School of Architecture in Agadir, she mentors future generations and develops environmental education programs for underserved children. Her work integrates climate adaptation, gender empowerment, and sustainable development, making a lasting impact on communities affected by desertification.
Nigeria
Chioma Ogbudimkpa is a fashion entrepreneur and sustainability advocate revolutionizing African fashion through Redbutton, a women’s workwear brand that blends African aesthetics, eco-friendly materials, and global artistry. Redbutton is dedicated to sustainability, utilizing upcycled agro-waste, water hyacinth fiber, and handwoven textile waste to create statement fashion pieces that redefine modern African culture. In 2022, Redbutton introduced a Digital ID technology, enhancing supply chain transparency by allowing consumers to trace each garment’s production journey. Chioma remains committed to reducing Africa’s fashion carbon footprint while pioneering a first-of-its-kind circular fashion platform for rentals, resale, and repairs in West Africa.
As the world grapples with the urgency of the climate crisis, the contributions of these women cannot remain in the shadows. They are more than climate advocates; they are innovators, entrepreneurs, changemakers and protectors of the environment. Their resilience, ingenuity, and leadership are proof that Africa is not just a frontline of climate impact but also a powerhouse of climate solutions.
To truly achieve a just and sustainable future, we must recognize, support, and celebrate these changemakers—not as underdogs, but as the leaders they are. The global climate conversation is incomplete without their stories.