Building an Inclusive Bamboo Economy: Why Gender Balance Matters

At the We Do Bamboo Foundation, we are committed to building a reliable bamboo value chain in Kenya. Our process spans from training and nurseries to harvesting, treatment, and conversion into poles, slats, chips, and powder by our market partner We Do Bamboo. For this initiative to succeed at scale and endure over time, inclusivity is essential. Gender balance is not just a side issue; it directly enhances safety, quality, and supply reliability.

Marking the bamboo for the next harvest

Why Gender Balance Matters

Better Decisions and Safer Work

Mixed teams are more effective at identifying risks early during critical tasks such as planting, thinning, grading, and machine operation. This proactive approach leads to safer work environments.

Higher, Steadier Quality

Quality is paramount in our operations. Many critical steps, including seedling selection, moisture checks, labeling, and inventory management, benefit from meticulous, team-based efforts. A diverse team enhances the overall quality of our products.

Trust and Market Access

In today’s market, buyers and local governments increasingly expect visible inclusion. Balanced teams not only strengthen our license to operate but also build trust with stakeholders.

Fair Value Distribution

Equal access to training, tools, and payments ensures that value reaches the entire household. This approach fosters local reinvestment and community growth.

What Gender Balance Looks Like Across WDB’s Chain

Nursery and Training (Bamboo Academy)

We prioritize open recruitment and equal access to propagation and quality assurance skills. Our goal is to achieve 50/50 gender targets for trainee cohorts whenever feasible.

Field Work and Aggregation

We employ mixed crews for various tasks, including planting, mulching, ring-weeding, thinning, and depot grading. Clear, posted grading charts help maintain transparency.

Treatment and Processing

Women receive training on boron and thermal treatment standard operating procedures (SOPs), moisture meters, and machine roles such as splitting, slatting, chipping, and powder milling.

Quality Assurance

Mixed quality assurance shifts are responsible for monitoring moisture, density, and dimension logs. We maintain simple digital records to track progress.

Our Commitments to Gender Balance

Hiring and Pay Transparency

We ensure open job postings and local-language outreach. Equal pay for equal work is a core principle at our sites and depots. Digital payments are made directly to individual accounts for transparency.

Safe, Fit-for-Purpose Work

We provide personal protective equipment (PPE) in multiple sizes, lifting aids, and reliable transport to remote plots. Our facilities include separate, well-lit sanitation areas. We uphold a zero-tolerance anti-harassment policy with independent reporting channels.

Skills and Progression

We reserve training slots for women in quality assurance, treatment plants, and machine operation. Clear criteria for promotion to team lead or shift lead roles are established.

Targets and Reporting

We set site-level gender targets, aiming for a minimum of 40% women overall and 50% in quality assurance and grading where feasible. Monthly dashboards track representation, safety, and quality metrics.

One of our bamboo farmers (together with the author Robert Sunya)

A Realistic 90-Day Starter Plan for WDB and Partners

Weeks 1–2

Count roles by function and gender. Set site targets and publish rate cards along with payment flow details.

Weeks 3–6

Adjust shifts to offer predictable or half-day options. Procure PPE in multiple sizes and conduct two short training sessions on quality assurance basics and safe machine operation.

Weeks 7–10

Pilot mixed crews in harvesting and at depots. Ensure transport and sanitation standards are met.

Weeks 11–12

Review outcomes and publish a one-page progress note outlining next steps.

How We’ll Measure Progress

We will track several key performance indicators, including:

• Representation by function (nursery, field, depots, treatment, quality assurance, machine operation, supervision)

• Pay parity for the same roles

• Safety incidents and near-misses by crew

• Quality KPIs (rejects/rework, moisture compliance) by shift

  
  

In conclusion, achieving gender balance in our bamboo supply chain enhances safety, steadiness, and quality. It ensures that the benefits of Kenya’s bamboo economy are shared fairly among all stakeholders.

Join us in our mission to create gender-balanced operations. We offer training, templates, and quick-start checklists available via the Bamboo Academy.

Contact us for more information.

This knowledge is part of the broader We Do Bamboo ecosystem, connecting farmers with long-term market opportunities.