By Kamila Gojobe

Roof Over Our Head campaign recognises the crucial role of women in addressing housing, security, and basic service-related issues in settlements. By actively involving women in decision-making processes, the campaign aims to champion their voices and empower them to lead the way in finding solutions to the challenges faced by urban poor communities.

Muungano wa Wanavijiji is a women-led movement, and one of our key priorities in informal settlements is to advocate for secure land tenure, affordable housing, and basic services. We believe that women's participation in these efforts is critical. One way we involve the community in advocacy is through mobilisation and organisation of groups.

Informal settlements are typically characterised by inadequate housing, poor sanitation, and inadequate access to basic services such as water and electricity. Women in these communities are disproportionately affected by these challenges, and their voices are often ignored during decision-making processes related to basic services.

That's why we're excited to be part of the "Roof Over Our Head" campaign, which is addressing these issues head-on. As Muungano women, we recently gathered women from different informal settlements, namely Mukuru, Mathare, Kibera and Kahawa Soweto, to discuss what "Roof Over Our Head" means to them and how it could translate into tangible impacts and greater inclusivity for women in urban poor communities. During our first community meeting, we were able to mobilise over 100 women from different groups within all the settlements

Understanding the campaign

“Women don't have a voice in the community, and most of us are not allowed to voice our concerns, resulting in a lack of information. It's time for us to have a voice and empower each other” says one of Mukuru women.

The "Roof Over Our Head" campaign places strong emphasis on women's leadership in addressing housing security and basic service-related issues in settlements. It recognizes the importance of adequate housing, safety, sanitation, education, and basic services for the well-being of individuals and communities, with a particular focus on how achieving these goals would improve women's dignity.

“Most of us are denied the freedom to work, or when we do work, we are required to contribute our earnings. We face economic abuse.” she adds

To address these issues, the campaign involves women at the household and city levels in planning and providing input on solutions. The campaign recognizes the critical role that women play in finding solutions and champions their voices to advocate for the improvement of their settlements. Empowering women to advocate for a safe and secure roof over their heads is essential to accessing education and services.

Key Focus

Evictions in informal settlements are a common occurrence however, these evictions disproportionately affect women, who are often excluded from decision-making processes related to basic service provision. It is crucial to place special emphasis on the issue of eviction and to actively involve women in advocacy efforts to reduce eviction threats. 

Sensitization efforts should prioritise ensuring that women fully understand the importance of active participation in development decision-making processes and their right to an equal say in their communities. This may require targeted outreach efforts to overcome any barriers or fears that may be preventing women from participating fully.

Additionally, initiatives such as training on women's rights through civic education and empowerment should be implemented to strengthen the capacity of women in the community.

Women championing for progress

The importance of women's participation in decision-making processes related to development challenges cannot be overstated. Empowering women to participate in these processes is crucial in ensuring that their needs and concerns are taken into account and that solutions are tailored to the specific challenges faced by women in informal settlements.

Makina Chairlady says, "The problem is that women are scared to be involved in spaces like the chief's baraza. That is where the decisions are made and the information is passed. So let's make an effort to be a part of it and air our concerns and opinions.

To achieve this, the "Roof Over Our Head" campaign will create forums where women can express their opinions and concerns about the services they need in their communities. These forums will also provide opportunities for women to learn more about the services available to them and how they can access them.

"A roof over our heads represents housing security. It means being able to afford a house that protects us from any hazards and provides access to basic services like quality sanitation.” Resident of Kahawa

Finally, the campaign will provide training and capacity building opportunities to women. By equipping them with the knowledge and skills necessary to participate in decision-making processes, the campaign will empower women to take an active role in shaping the future of their communities.