Kenyan Women Lead the Fight for Food Security Through CASCADE Project

A project in Kenya is helping women take a leading role in food security and nutrition. Known as CASCADE, the initiative supports thousands through training, savings groups, and farming education. Organisers say women are key to improving family diets and resilience—but often face barriers in decision-making.

The CASCADE project, run by CARE Kenya and GAIN, focuses on three regions: Nakuru, Nyandarua, and Nairobi. It empowers women through Village Savings and Loan Associations (VSLAs), Farmer Field and Business Schools (FFBS), and home gardens. By last year, the scheme had strengthened 314 VSLA groups, with members saving nearly Ksh 8 million. Around 80% of loans from these groups went towards farm supplies and nutrition-focused businesses.

Over 3,000 farmers, mostly women, have also received practical training in climate-smart agriculture through FFBS. The project goes beyond farming by offering nutrition advice, reaching nearly 100,000 women with guidance on breastfeeding, dietary diversity, and food safety. Despite their central role in food production and childcare, women often struggle with limited access to land, credit, and cooperatives. These restrictions weaken their influence over family diets and well-being. To address this, the project uses structured dialogue sessions to build shared responsibility and boost women’s confidence in decision-making. Local women-led groups and community organisations play a crucial part in driving change. The initiative stresses that lasting progress depends on involving all stakeholders—governments, businesses, and NGOs—while treating women as key decision-makers in the food system.

The project has already mobilised savings, trained farmers, and spread nutrition knowledge across three counties. By strengthening women’s financial and agricultural skills, CASCADE aims to improve family diets and resilience. Organisers continue to push for greater gender equity in food systems, calling for broader support from all sectors.