This is the story of Liliana Aristizábal from the Colombian NGO Conciudadanía, who visited organisations in El Salvador for strategies to amplify women’s leadership in environmental actions.
“I want to make women's actions more visible”
As advisor for the Salvaguarda project by Conciudadanía in Colombia, Liliana Aristizábal is always looking for innovative ways to strengthen proactive environmental citizenship.
In her efforts to involve women more, she noticed a persistent issue: although women often played crucial roles in environmental action, their contributions often remained in the shadows, leaving their leadership potential untapped.
Lacking tools and strategies
While Conciudadanía prioritised community-driven approaches, it lacked clear strategies to promote and support women's contributions. The absence of a formal gender policy further hampered progress.
For Liliana and the Conciudadanía team, it became clear that meaningful change required not only fresh ideas but also tangible examples of how to bridge these gaps.
Bridging knowledge across borders
Seeking inspiration, Liliana and her colleagues embarked on a horizont3000 Learning Visit to El Salvador. The visit to organisations working in similar areas proved to be a turning point.
At Colectiva Feminista, they learned about their strategic axis called Feminist Economy and Environmental Justice. It addresses all their initiatives, including community water systems, grassroots consultations, and productive enterprises with a woman's perspective. At FUNDESYRAM, they witnessed the importance of a strong gender policy that includes specific actions and indicators.
Creating spaces for women’s voices
“We have successfully carried out so-called ‘grassroots consultations’ on the Human Right to Water. This includes organising bottom-up campaigns, training activities with communities, educational materials, and forums. These consultations allow for greater political participation, especially for women, as it is mostly men who occupy official decision-making spaces".
– Wendy Arenivar, from Colectiva Feminista, who shared her experience with Liliana
Turning knowledge into change
Liliana and her colleagues returned to Colombia with a toolbox full of new ideas. By learning about methodologies for working collectively and ways to integrate women's knowledge, they were able to strengthen both their strategies and institutional policy.
The ripple effects of the exchange visit were profound. Women now hold a stronger voice within Conciudadanía’s initiatives, making their contributions more visible and effective.
Lasting inspiration
“I was really inspiring to see the ownership that these communities have of agro-ecology as a way of life, and the different methods they have for incorporating a gender approach.”
– Liliana Aristizábal, Conciudadanía
Exchange is not a one-way street
The impact didn’t end in Colombia—Liliana’s team promptly invited the Salvadoran organisations for a return visit, showcasing their own innovative approaches.
These ongoing exchanges have created a cycle of learning and transformation, empowering organisations to co-create solutions that address both gender inequities and environmental challenges.