Building Bridges: Training for Social Inclusion in Natural Resource Management

In Zambia, many groups continue to face barriers that hinder their full participation in political, economic, and social life. These disadvantages are often rooted in gender, age, geographic location, occupation, race, ethnicity, religion, citizenship status, disability, and sexual orientation or gender identity (SOGI), among other factors. Such social exclusion not only denies individuals dignity and security but also deprives them of the opportunity to lead improved, fulfilling lives. Without addressing the root causes of systemic exclusion and discrimination, achieving sustainable, inclusive growth and reducing poverty will remain a challenge. Exclusion is also an issue in natural resource management. It is apparent in instances such as deciding where to place a borehole in a community – usually decided at a higher level missing technical and qualitative aspects.

Building Capacity for Inclusive Action 

Therefore, from June to September 2025, the NatuReS Programme in Zambia, in collaboration with the Lusaka Water Security Initiative (LuWSI), has conducted comprehensive training workshops. They served to empower partners from civil society, the private sector, and public institutions with the knowledge and tools necessary to advance social inclusion and gender equality across their programmes. The objective was to build the partners’ capacity to meaningfully integrate principles of Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI), community empowerment, and accountability in their work. The trainings covered diverse thematic areas including water security, climate resilience, environmental sustainability, public health, community awareness, and Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH). 

During the trainings participants were equipped with practical strategies to: 

• Understand and apply key concepts of gender equality, social inclusion, safeguarding, and empowerment within the context of WASH and natural resource stewardship programmes.  
• Identify barriers to inclusion and discriminatory practices that limit the participation, leadership, and wellbeing of marginalised groups.  
• Apply approaches that are gender-transformative and also inclusive of other marginalised groups to programme design, implementation, and monitoring to address social inequalities and promote community empowerment.  

By doing so, the initiative seeks to enhance the inclusivity, impact, and sustainability of partner efforts in managing natural resources and improving community resilience. 

Why Social Inclusion Matters

Social inclusion is not just a moral imperative – it is a strategic necessity for sustainable development. Ensuring the participation of marginalised and vulnerable groups in the governance and management of natural resources is crucial to achieving equitable development shaped by the diverse voices and experiences of all community members.

For the NatuReS Programme, social inclusion lies at the heart of its approach to fostering effective, collective governance through multi-stakeholder partnerships. By removing barriers to participation in decision-making, the partnerships contribute to a Just Transition and ensure that no one is left behind.