From camel milk to women in leadership

What does camel milk production in Kenya and women's leadership at VSF-Suisse have in common? For Genevieve Owuor, quite a lot.

One of our longest-serving colleagues in Kenya, Genevieve led the Drought Resilience in Isiolo County (DRIC) project, helping women build businesses around camel milk production, improve family nutrition and increase their incomes.

Today, she is also a driving force behind VSF-Suisse's Gender & Balance Action Plan, which aims to promote equal opportunities, remove barriers and support more women in taking on leadership roles across the organisation.

In this interview, Genevieve talks about the mentor who shaped her career and why she wants more women to have the opportunity to follow in her footsteps.

Project Milk Value Chain: How did your work in Isiolo influence you and the goals of the Gender & Balance Action Plan?

In 2008, VSF-Suisse started working with milk producers and women selling milk on the streets of Isiolo. From 2009, I helped them build what became the Anolei Women Camel Milk Cooperative Society. We trained them in milk hygiene, value addition, group dynamics, cooperative management and marketing, and organised study tours and market linkages. Anolei began with 30 women and 300 liters a day. Today, 40 active members sell 7,000 liters a day to Nairobi.

The Anolei women did not lack ability or determination. What they needed was sustained support, structure, networks, and access to opportunities. I believe women at VSF-Suisse similarly need an enabling environment where their potential can be recognised, developed and translated into leadership and professional growth.

Why did you personally want to be part of VSF-Suisse's Gender & Balance Action Plan?

In the communities where we work, women play a significant role in livestock and dairy production. Yet they are often underrepresented when decisions are made about resources, markets, and land. A similar pattern can exist within development organisations, where women are present at many levels, but fewer move into leadership positions. Through the Gender & Balance Action Plan, I believe that there is an opportunity to contribute to addressing these challenges.

Is there a woman or an experience in your own career that has shaped the way you think about women's professional development?

Later in my career, I met Dr. Rachael Masake, a veterinarian who is old enough to be my mother and still doing consultancy. She helped me when I was considering quitting my job at VSF-Suisse and has always encouraged me. She has been a great source of inspiration to me.  

Meeting her made me reflect on how valuable mentorship can be and how much difference it can make when someone believes in you, guides you and provides an example of what is possible.  

Your focus is on mentoring, role models, and making women's career paths more visible. Why is this particularly important to you?

Much of what contributes to career growth is informal knowledge; how to put yourself forward, how to seek opportunities, how to negotiate and how to navigate situations where you may be the only woman in the room. This knowledge is often passed through relationships and mentorship. Women who do not have access to these networks may have to figure things out on their own, which can make their journey more difficult. I would like women at VSF-Suisse to have access to such support much earlier in their careers.

What change do you hope the Gender & Balance Action Plan will bring to VSF-Suisse?

I hope this Plan becomes an integral part of how we work every day, rather than simply a document that we review once a year. I would like women at VSF-Suisse to see a clear pathway for career development, have access to mentors and colleagues who can provide guidance and be given equal opportunities to take on leadership responsibilities.

What message would you like to share with all the women working at VSF-Suisse?

Your experience, knowledge and perspective are valuable and contribute to making this organisation stronger. Do not be afraid to put yourself forward. Ask for the responsibilities you would like to take on, seek feedback and ask for support when you need it.

When you gain knowledge or experience, share it with another woman who is coming behind you. By supporting one another and creating opportunities for others, we can make the path easier for the next generation of women.

‍