At Empower Grassroots Initiatives (Empower Earth), we are dedicated to amplifying the voices, dignity, and rights of informal waste pickers and frontline environmental defenders across the Global South.
Founded by grassroots organizers and community leaders, our work is rooted in decades of direct, on-the-ground action—from organizing waste pickers locally in Kisumu and across Kenya to championing a Just Transition at global policy tables, including the UN Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) meetings for a global plastics treaty.
Problem statement
Theory of logic
IF we equip underserved communities particularly women, youth, and persons with disabilities with inclusive skills, technical knowledge, and local innovation,
AND co-create community-led solutions that dismantle systemic inequalities across climate, economic, and social systems,
THEN historically marginalised populations will drive their own climate resilience, economic productivity, and dignified livelihoods,
WHICH WILL trigger a sustainable ripple effect, transforming entire ecosystems into inclusive, equitable, and thriving communities for all.
Grassroots communities possess the localised insight needed to solve pressing climate and environmental crises, yet systemic gaps in resource allocation, technical capacity, and structural equity hold them back. Frontline workers, especially women in the informal sector disproportionately bear the weight of climate vulnerability while lacking the institutional backing, labor rights, and financial tools required to transform their essential efforts into sustainable, dignified livelihoods.
Our Mission
We are committed to a bold, measurable goal: directly supporting 390,000 underserved individuals by 2035 to adapt to climate impacts and build sustainable futures.
Our Vision
A world where frontline communities and workers lead a Just Transition—driving climate resilience, equitable circular economies, and shared prosperity.
Our Values
E – Equity & Inclusion: Ensuring equal access, non-discrimination, and gender responsiveness at every level.
A – Agency & Empowerment: Equipping local communities with knowledge and resources to lead their own development.
R – Resilience & Innovation: Advancing grassroots, climate-adaptive solutions for a circular economy.
T – Transparency & Safeguarding: Upholding safety, dignity, and open accountability across all operations.
H – Holistic Solidarity: Uniting informal workers, local government, and global allies for a Just Transition