Nadia Owusu, a distinguished alumnus of the Nairobi Summer School on Climate Justice Cohort III from Ghana, embodies the spirit of empowering local communities to address climate challenges.
Her work under SheBlue focuses on fostering sustainable solutions while amplifying the voices of women and youth in climate action.
In her hometown, community members recognize Nadia’s work as transformative.
“She has brought us closer to solutions that we never thought were possible,” says Adwoa Agyeman, a local farmer who has benefited from SheBlue’s climate-resilient agricultural training.
SheBlue is about empowering women and youth to lead sustainable environmental practices while addressing critical community needs. One of our main focuses is providing energy-efficient cookstoves, commonly known as ‘jikos,’ to reduce deforestation and indoor air pollution. These jikos consume less fuelwood, improving household health and easing the burden on women who traditionally gather firewood. Beyond that, we focus on climate-smart agriculture, community-led restoration projects, and fostering local innovation to tackle climate challenges head-on.
What inspired you to lead the SheBlue initiative?
Nadia says that her inspiration comes from witnessing firsthand how climate change disproportionately affects women and youth in local communities.
“I wanted to create a platform where their voices are amplified, and their solutions are recognized; and through SheBlue, we are now able to provide education, resources, and the necessary support to empower these communities to implement sustainable solutions,” says Nadia.
She says that they prioritize working directly with communities to understand their unique challenges and co-create solutions. This involves holding regular community forums, collaborating with local leaders, and providing training programs focused on climate resilience.
So far, in partnership with grassroots organizations, they recently trained 50 women on sustainable agricultural practices, which is already improving food security in the region. “In communities like Tamale and Ho in Ghana, we have distributed over 300 energy-efficient jikos. Local leaders have reported reduced fuel costs and improved respiratory health as a direct outcome” informs Nadia
A success story from SheBlue’s work
One story that stands out is from a group of young women who, after receiving our training, started a community-led mangrove restoration project. Their initiative not only helps combat coastal erosion but also provides a sustainable source of income through eco-tourism.
Nadia says that seeing communities take ownership of climate solutions is a powerful reminder of why this work is so important. Sha says “in Tamale, a group of women using our energy-efficient jikos have started small-scale food businesses, using the saved fuel costs to invest in their enterprises.”
Nadia Owusu says that the achievement was possible due to the partnership. Part of the partnership is the collaborationwith government bodies, international organizations, and local NGOs to maximize our impact. “By aligning our work with policy frameworks and connecting local initiatives with larger resources, we ensure that community-led solutions are not just temporary fixes but part of a long-term strategy for climate justice,” added Nadia
She says that her vision is to expand SheBlue’s reach to more communities while deepening SheBlue’s impact. “We aim to build a network of empowered local leaders who can advocate for climate policies that reflect the realities on the ground. Ultimately, we want to create a future where every community has the knowledge and resources to face the climate crisis head-on,” Nadia says.
