Before Constance Mwandaa joined the Kasigau Corridor REDD+ Project as a female ranger, she was skeptical about whether she would excel in what is traditionally perceived as a man’s job. Now, as one of the female rangers at the Kasigau Corridor REDD+ Project in Kenya, Constance has broken the glass ceiling in conservation and overcome stereotypes by working her way to being promoted to Head of Training and an Assistant Warden.
Currently, she is one of the rangers with a leadership position in the department, aimed at a strategic restructuring of the security department amid a push for better relations between the rangers, the landowners and the community.
Her journey in conservation has been inspiring since she joined the ranger team in 2011. In 2017, Constance was one of the rangers selected to be trained in a LEAD Ranger course, thanks to the partnership between conservation organization LEAD ranger and the Kasigau Corridor REDD+ Project.
Earlier this year, in a bid to strengthen the security department’s structure and culture, the Kasigau Corridor REDD+ Project approached LEAD Ranger to help create a chain of command that would facilitate both better accountability and decision-making power. This led to Boris Vos, who works at LEAD Ranger, taking up the position as the Interim Security Manager in the Kasigau Corridor REDD+ project.
One of the first enhancements was to promote Constance from her pervious role as Training Officer in the Ranger Department to Assistant Warden, in order to expand the department’s training capacity and make it a key priority.
“This was a good thing to be in that position officially because it gives you a lot more opportunity to change things together with the team and it has been an honour helping to put the structures and systems in place,” Constance remarked on stepping up to the new demands.
Right now in her new role, she is responsible for training rangers, team leaders and the deputy team leaders. The new training programs run longer than previous programs, which makes her current role more demanding than before. She will have to make the training plans and communicate the outcomes to Human Resources and therefore, being an Assistant Warden is an important rank to have.
“While she was on the first ranger course training in 2017 as a junior ranger, she immediately stood out in her drive, focus and her willingness to excel. Through the years, as we did more and more advanced courses, she has done very well,” says Boris.
“What we are doing now is expanding our capabilities and giving people an opportunity to grow within the organization, and we are currently setting up the structure and systems that will enable us to do so,” he adds.
These changes were made by the Project Lead, Mr Nick Taylor and the Interim Security Manager, Boris Vos, who announced Constance Mwandaa as the Head of Training and an Assistant Warden, alongside Joseph Mwambiti as the new Head Ranger and Assistant Chief Warden, Evans Mwachoki as the new Deputy Head Ranger and Assistant Warden, and Ijemma Funan as Senior Security Liaison and Assistant Chief Warden.
In her new role, Constance couldn’t be happier to be provided this extra responsibility. “My role is not only to hand over information, but to cultivate creativity, communication, critical thinking, and collaboration within my team. It's also about empowering my fellow rangers to realize their potential,” she says.
We wish Constance Mwandaa the best in her new role.
For more, watch this award-winning short film about Connie's story:
