How nature-based projects support female empowerment and gender equality

Women, especially in rural and indigenous communities, are deeply connected to the natural environment. They often manage land resources, lead grassroots conservation efforts, and act as key agents of change, often working on the frontlines of environmental commitments.

According to the FAO, women make up 45% of the agricultural labour force in developing countries, and in some regions, they

produce up to 80% of food

. Yet, women frequently face limited access to land, finance, training and decision-making power, all of which restrict their ability to adapt to climate change and benefit from environmental programmes.

Gender equality and female empowerment are now widely recognised as essential to achieving climate goals, restoring biodiversity and meeting the Sustainable Development Goals. International frameworks are increasingly calling for inclusive, gender-responsive solutions. For example,

Article 11 of the Paris Agreement

calls for capacity-building that is gender-responsive, while the

Enhanced Lima Work Programme and Gender Action Plan

adopted under the UNFCCC encourage countries to integrate gender equality into all aspects of climate policy and finance. These efforts aim to ensure that climate action reflects the experiences, leadership, and priorities of women.

Nature-based solutions

such as

forest

reforestation,

regenerative agriculture

and

mangrove

restoration projects deliver measurable climate and biodiversity benefits while also creating remarkable opportunities for women. They help them generate income, build skills, and open up leadership roles in climate and conservation efforts.

Sustainable Development Goal 5

calls for ending discrimination, ensuring equal participation, and expanding economic opportunities for women and girls. While this goal is often associated with education, healthcare and governance, it is just as relevant in the context of environmental work, especially in communities where women rely on natural resources for their livelihoods.

Many of the projects supported by Earthly are built on community involvement, and in many cases, they prioritise or directly benefit women through:

By investing in projects that value and empower women, Earthly contributes directly to the SDG 5 targets, particularly:

Many of Earthly’s nature-based projects actively support women’s empowerment:

To date,

the Rimba Raya Biodiversity Reserve project

has created 52 local jobs, including 17 roles filled by women. As part of its social development goals, the project prioritises fair employment by directly hiring from nearby communities and ensuring women are included in restoration and conservation work.

In addition to job creation, the project supports

women-led entrepreneurship

through the launch of a dedicated

women’s cooperative (COOP)

. This initiative empowers women to develop and run their micro-enterprises, including:

These activities contribute to household income and offer women greater financial independence, decision-making power and social recognition.

The TIST program in Mount Kenya

promotes women’s empowerment by embedding inclusion into its structure. Women are not just participants in tree planting, they are leaders in the programme’s long-term management and monitoring.

Today, 50% of TIST’s leadership in Kenya is made up of women, and 41% of its total participants are women, many of whom are smallholder farmers. Through this model, women gain access to sustainable income, skills development and roles in local governance, helping to reshape traditional gender roles in rural communities.

The Indus Delta Blue Carbon project

integrates social equity into its restoration strategy by ensuring women’s inclusion in employment and capacity-building. Out of the 1,000 local jobs created through the project, 400 are allocated to women, marking a big step in expanding access to income and formal work in rural coastal communities.

This commitment was informed by a Social and Biodiversity Impact Assessment (SBIA), which shaped the project’s design around community needs. In addition to paid roles, the project supports training and education initiatives that further build women’s skills and participation in restoration work.

The Kukumuty project

stands out for its strong commitment to community participation and gender equity. While providing local employment and ecosystem restoration, the project ensures that at least 50% of participants in decision-making processes are women.

What sets this project apart is its inclusive revenue-sharing model: 60% of carbon credit income is returned to the community through social and environmental investments. These funds are allocated by local subcommittees, who are tasked with guaranteeing that all decisions are gender-balanced and aligned with community needs.

The Highland Restoration in Ethiopia project

places a strong emphasis on inclusion by focusing on underrepresented and vulnerable groups. Women make up 40% of all project participants, ensuring they have access to training, income opportunities, and involvement in restoration activities.

The project also supports women affected by HIV and sexual violence, helping to rebuild dignity, social belonging, and economic independence. By actively engaging those who are often excluded, the project helps reduce discrimination and creates space for women and other vulnerable groups to participate fully and equally in environmental and community initiatives.

The Sumatra Merang peatland project

prioritises gender balance in staffing, aiming for 25% of all project roles to be filled by women. It also supports local women’s groups through targeted development programmes.

The initiative also prioritises access to education for girls and women through a scholarship scheme in surrounding villages. Between 2016 and 2019, 64 women were among 127 students supported through this initiative, three of whom have since returned as teachers, helping to uplift the next generation.

The Smallholder TIST Farmers project

has so far involved 5,599 participants, including 2,072 women. This is particularly significant given that

women make up 64.4% of agricultural workers

in India, yet often lack equal access to land, credit and training. By involving women directly in tree planting and agroforestry practices, the project helps close these gaps, offering more equitable access to income and decision-making within rural farming systems.

At Earthly, we carefully assess every project we support to ensure it delivers what it promises, not just in climate and biodiversity impact, but in real, measurable benefits for communities on the ground. Each project undergoes rigorous due diligence and is certified by trusted standards such as VCS, CCB, and Plan Vivo.

We prioritise

projects

that create lasting change, including those that advance women’s empowerment through fair employment, leadership, and equal access to resources. 

If your business is looking to invest in high-integrity climate solutions that also uplift people,

talk to us today

. We’ll help you ivest in a project that aligns with your values and makes a measurable difference.