Women Leaders Taking Action for More Inclusive Governance in Guinea

They spoke out. They were heard.

In Guinea, several communities live near forested areas and face intersecting challenges related to human rights, governance, and environmental justice. Deforestation, land pressure, and the effects of climate change are undermining access to natural resources essential for their livelihoods. Social and gender inequalities persist and limit the participation of women and young women in decisions that directly affect their territory and their future.

These realities give rise to several interconnected human rights issues, including the right to a healthy environment, the right to participate in public life, the right to gender equality, and the right to sustainable livelihoods. It is precisely these issues that the Femmes Pro-Forêts project addresses by strengthening the leadership of women and young women and supporting inclusive governance approaches.

From April 14 to 16, 2026, in Conakry, the National Forum on Inclusive Governance organized by the Femmes Pro-Forêts project brought together women and young women leaders from the Moyen-Bafing National Park, civil society organizations, and institutional representatives around a common goal: to strengthen environmental rights and promote feminist climate justice.

Led by UPA Développement international in collaboration with Equitas, Canadian Research Chair in Ecological Economics, and several partners, with support from Global Affairs Canada, this meeting was a highlight of the project, creating a space for dialogue between local communities and decision-makers on issues related to natural resource management, citizen participation, and gender equality.

Amplifying the voices of communities

At the heart of the forum, 12 women and young women from seven villages in the Moyen-Bafing National Park shared their experiences, their struggles, and above all, their visions.

Over the course of three days, they took center stage. With the support of civil society organizations, they worked on action priorities and demands through participatory workshops, a workshop to validate their demands, a creative workshop to produce a zine, and activities on the impacts of deforestation, jointly developing and refining their priorities for action.

Some then volunteered to deliver these messages to those present with strength, clarity, and determination.

The forum also served to create a space for open, constructive, and participatory dialogue among communities, civil society organizations, and institutional representatives.

Panel discussions and exchanges helped identify concrete courses of action regarding several key issues:

Conservation of natural resources
Combating deforestation
Establishing inclusive governance mechanisms
Promoting gender equality and gender-sensitive approaches

This meeting also served as a genuine opportunity for mutual learning, including for the authorities in attendance, who were able to better understand the realities faced by the communities.

The forum also benefited from the participation of institutional actors, including the Secretary General of Guinea’s Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development, underscoring the importance placed on these issues and on community participation in decision-making.

“When women participate in decision-making, solutions are fairer, more sustainable, and better grounded in local realities. ”

In a spirit of inclusion, the forum provided simultaneous translation services, which were praised by participants, allowing all women, including those who do not speak French, to fully participate in the discussions.

A moment of gratitude and hope

Developed over the course of several months, rooted in their lived experiences, and focused on concrete solutions, these demands were presented directly by the women themselves. Beyond technical discussions, this forum was also a moment of recognition, emotion, and solidarity. The participants strongly affirmed their determination to actively contribute to the protection of their environment and the defense of their rights.

In his closing remarks, Mamadou Tafsir Diallo, Director of the Femmes Pro-Forêts project, strongly emphasized that these women are at the heart of change.

This forum marks an important step toward more inclusive and equitable governance of natural resources.

« These contributions provide a solid foundation for guiding future actions and strengthening public policies aimed at more inclusive, equitable, and sustainable governance. This forum does not mark an end, but rather the beginning of a renewed commitment. It is now up to us to translate these recommendations into concrete actions, to maintain dialogue, and to strengthen synergies among the various parties involved. »

– Mamadou Tafsir Diallo, Director of Femmes Pro-Forêts