Dr. Wanjiru Kamau-Rutenberg

We're thrilled that Althaë Strategy took on our most recent CARE #systemschange #impact evaluation! We examined how 30 years of #savingsgroups in #Niger have changed the lives of women and girls. 💡 What did we learn? 🏥 Maternal Health: women are using health centers and aware of contraception methods but the decision to use it is not 100% theirs just yet. 🎒 Girls’ Education: girls and boys tend to start school at the same age (7 years old), but girls still suffer from being stigmatized. Many parents believe that girls are less dedicated to their studies than boys, or that they will become sexually active earlier if they go to school. 🥕 Nutrition: More women own land because they're part of a #savings group and using that savings to buy land. Communities have noted that the land owned by women MMD members tend to be more fertile thanks to the training they have received to produce and use compost. 💒 Early and Forced Marriage: Niger has the highest and most stubborn rate of early and forced marriage in the world with 77% of girls being married before they reach 18 years old. Reduction in child marriage is slow, despite strong understanding from the participants of the study of the consequence for girls. This was a herculean effort by Sophie Romana, Julia Arnold, Mamadou Moussa, and Mariam Diakité. A big, big thanks to my current and former CARE comrades Anne Sprinkel, Bhumika Piya, PhD, Hilawit Gebrehanna, and Dawalak Ahmet for all they did to make this study happen! Read all of CARE's Systems-Level Impact studies here: https://lnkd.in/ePvXMWXH

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🚨 New Blog Post: Findings on the Worst Forms of Child Labor 2023 - Tackling Child Labor and Trafficking in Ghana 🇬🇭 Child labour and human trafficking continue to pose serious challenges in Ghana, especially in sectors like cocoa farming, fishing, and gold mining. The latest 2023 Findings on the Worst Forms of Child Labor report published last week highlights key areas for action and the urgent need for stronger protections for vulnerable groups like kayaye. 💡 What steps are being taken to address these issues? How can education and social programs make a difference? 👉 Read the full blog post here https://bit.ly/3znXyy1 to learn more about the Findings on the Worst Forms of Child Labor 2023 report on Ghana. #ChildLabor #HumanTrafficking #Ghana #CocoaIndustry #Kayaye #YouthEmpowerment #EndExploitation #EducationForAll

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"Addressing the Unequal Impact of Climate Change: A Call for Inclusive Action" CARE latest report - Breaking the Barriers https://lnkd.in/epd-SF8f The data cannot be ignored or excused! 🛑Weather extremes are the main driver of #hunger in 18 countries - 72 million people are facing acute climate change. 🛑#Women work 55 more minutes per week than men due to #climateimpacts 🛑# the income gap between men and women widens by $53 billion annually due to climate stress. 🛑Women lack access to crucial farming support, impacting food production #systeminequality #genderinequality We know: ✅ Bridging #gender gap in agriculture systems could feed an additional 45 million people annually ✅ Women Lead Change to address impact of climate change - disaster preparedness, climate resilient farming, water harvesting to tree planting What should be done? 💲#Invest in #Resilience: Every $1 spent on climate preparedness saves $7 in response costs globally 💲Long-Term #Investment: Focus on #resilience and safety nets that endure beyond immediate crises 📗 Build #Inclusive Plans:  Ensure women and marginalized groups leadership and participation 💪 Support Local Networks: Strengthen local response capabilities for faster, more effective crisis management. 📢 #amplify the #voices of women leading climate adaptation Let’s invest in solutions that support everyone, especially those most impacted i.e. women and marginalized communities #invest in #solutions #women #communityled #ClimateChange #GenderEquality #Sustainability #ClimateAction #Resilience #WomenLeadership #InclusiveSolutions CARE

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One aspect of the housing crisis that deserves more discussion is the struggle of young people aging out of the foster care system and in need of affordable housing. In 2022, more than 18,000 young men and women faced circumstances that often make them uniquely vulnerable to homelessness and housing insecurity. The Bipartisan Policy Center’s Yvonne Phan and Kristen Klurfield just published an insightful explainer outlining the challenges faced by youths aging out of foster care and describe the federal programs and policy initiatives available to help: https://lnkd.in/eynEMmYn

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"Petersburgh, New York’s Braiding Seeds Fellowship addresses these disparities by offering an 18-month program for beginning BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and people of color) farmers in the northeastern and southeastern United States. Each of Braiding Seeds’s 10 annually selected fellows receives a $50,000 stipend and resources like one-to-one mentorship, individualized coaching, financial and business planning support, professional development and business acumen workshops, and group gatherings. Twelve runners-up each receive $2,500 in mini-grants." #foodjustice #foodsovereignty #healthjustice #foodasmedicine

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In addition to community foundations, we are considering a small number of United Ways. Spread the word! We think the SDGs will be particularly useful as a vehicle for place-based racial equity work in the new environment we are heading into...

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Hello LinkedIn fam! In an effort to be more active in this space by sharing professional joys, I have to take a moment to share the research of the Mitsui Collective. In the first year of my job at the Jews of Color Initiative, I was deeply moved by the idea that Mitsui brought forward to talk about the embodied impacts of racism and antisemitism for Jews of Color. I'm so grateful we had the opportunity to support this research, which has now officially been published for the community. This is a type of research that has not been done before that traces these unique intersectional experiences. If you're interested in learning about how racism and antisemitism impact JoCs, check out their research here: https://lnkd.in/gKbuf9FC

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The growth of the Adaptation and Resilience Collaborative (ARC) marks a watershed moment in climate philanthropy, reflecting a growing recognition of escalating climate impacts, and the associated human suffering especially for the most vulnerable who are least responsible.    ClimateWorks Foundation's latest report highlights an encouraging increase in annual funding for #adaptation and resilience, reaching $600 million in 2023 and projected to grow further in 2024. But much more is needed to close the gap in global adaptation finance.   Between #COP28 and #COP29, more than 60 organisations have joined ARC, aligning efforts to build resilience and ensure resources reach those most affected. This collaborative force shows that, alongside rapid decarbonisation, the world’s most vulnerable must have the support needed to adapt and respond to climate impacts.  Learn more about our collective progress and the ARC members advancing this critical work: https://lnkd.in/eZFKE8UV   Congrats to the ClimateWorks Foundation team Jessica Brown Jessica Hitt Helen M.   #ClimateAction #Adaptation #Resilience #Philanthropy

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Nice article on why, as climate breaches our BAU system limits, we need to get more comfortable taking risks, and acknowledging and learning fast from failures. Thanks for sharing John Matthews

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Typically, when philanthropy engages in movement-led grantmaking, funders set the table and send the invitations. But what's possible when we take a different approach? In this piece for Stanford Social Innovation Review, Colette Pichon Battle and Enei Begaye reflect on the outcome when movement leaders build the table together, and offer insights on what funders can learn from the Environmental Justice Resourcing Collective. Read more about how the Collective engaged in rapid response grantmaking, avoided the clashing of egos through consensus-based decision-making, and ultimately developed a strategy that supported field building, multi-generational power building, and movement infrastructure: https://lnkd.in/gnebP54P

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“The first step in addressing hardship and inequality in the sector, the report emphasizes, is identifying it. “‘Capturing the true extent of financial hardship in the nonprofit workforce is critical for the appropriate allocation of funds for programs in areas such as education, health care, food access, housing, and employment’ the report notes. ‘There is a lot more to be done to change the trajectory for households struggling to make ends meet.’”

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I have long said that Impact Measurement & Management have an important role to play in ESG, because they're all about turning goals into action, and tracking our progress. I could not be more excited for this webinar with Tim Mohin and John Sherman. Do not miss it!

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Climate is not another issue but now context to all issues. Project Dandelion celebrates women taking bold action to lead in climate philanthropy investing in people and planet. When people have action around things that are meaningful to them collectively we give people agency to tackle the climate crisis. #worldenvironmentday

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As a Forum Board Trustee, I’m excited to see the section on business climate finance in Forum for the Future and B Lab U.S. & Canada’s recently co-published Business Guide to Advancing Climate Justice!   Along with this discussion around business climate finance, the guide explores four critical insights identified for the private sector to consider as it works to advance climate justice, including: 🤝prioritizing trust-building with frontline communities 💡adopting a new mindset 🌻offering immediate and sustained support to meet frontline community needs 🍀considering spheres of control and influence   #AmericanClimateFutures #ClimateJustice #Report #Business #Guide #EarthMonth #SustainableBusiness #JustandRegenerative #JustTransition

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@TheJustTrust's 2024 annual report is here! This year we dive into how our layered approach to grantmaking is powering the next generation of reform, and how we’re making sure progress happens on this issue no matter what. Check it out! bit.ly/4dBVilR

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📣 Call-In Interview with LBC – Aquayemi-Claude G. Akinsanya's Statement Summary As a Social Justice Campaigner, Environmentalist, Philanthropist, Young Leader, and Nonprofit Sustainable Solopreneur, I’ll be addressing the potential changes to the Capital Gains Tax (CGT) regime under Labour’s upcoming Budget announcement on October 30th. https://lnkd.in/entvpwZh The proposal to equalize CGT rates with income tax raises important questions about equity and fairness in taxation. While equalization may ensure wealthier individuals contribute more fairly to public funds, it’s critical we don't stifle innovation or deter investment in startups and small businesses —particularly those led by underrepresented entrepreneurs. We need to carefully balance the impact on marginalized communities, ensuring that tax relief supports inclusive growth, job creation, and socially responsible investments. Let’s use this moment to rethink how tax policy can foster economic justice and environmental sustainability, while ensuring the UK remains a hub for innovation and tech ecosystems. Your input matters! Take the survey and make your voice heard on how these changes could impact investment, the tech sector, and our future. #TheStartupCoalitionTeam #StartupCoalitionTeam Startup Coalition #Entrepreneurs #Investors #Forbes #business #Budget2024 #Budget 🗣️ Tune in to LBC for my interview and share your thoughts. 🔗 Take the survey here: https://lnkd.in/ePBNT69K 🔗 Learn more: https://lnkd.in/e2q29ic4  #SocialJustice #CapitalGainsTax #Entrepreneurship #EnvironmentalJustice #TaxReform #LBC #StartupSupport #InnovationEconomy #BBCNews

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September 24: Join Our Food Day Panel During Climate Week NYC! https://lnkd.in/eA-aZstJ World Animal Protection and Center for Biological Diversity have brought a group of civil society organizations from around the world to co-produce the Just Transition White Paper. Co-produced by more than 50 organizations, it outlines a global roadmap for bringing about the end of industrial animal agriculture and shifting to a humane, sustainable, and equitable food system that is primarily plant-based food and protects animals, the climate, workers, and community food security. The event, hosted by Tilt Collective in partnership with the Children’s Investment Fund Foundation (CIFF), World Health Organization (WHO), Bezos Earth Fund, and Farmed Animal Funders, Food Day will bring together leaders from the climate, nature, health, and animal advocacy communities to advance plant-rich foods, will serve to launch this Just Transition framework to a US audience and discuss opportunities to adapt the roadmap to empower local and regional food movements so that everyone can thrive in a plant-rich food system. Also, see the White Paper that can be accessed via the link below: Just Food Transition: White Paper and Roadmap From industrial animal production to equitable, humane and sustainable food systems https://lnkd.in/e_WmmuQC #climate #climatechange #climateweek #sustainablefoodsystems #foodsystems #foodsystemtransformations #foodjustice #equity #socialequity #foodequity #foodpolicy #dietitians #nutritionists #nutricionistas

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Top opportunities and updates in farmed animal advocacy in our recent newsletter!

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I've put down some initial thoughts on the CASH Coalition Blog about #COP29 and the critical importance of including smallholder farmers in real solutions (finance, technical support, and market access) for climate adaptation and mitigation.

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