As the EU negotiates its next long term budget, the decisions made now will shape Europe’s role in the world for years to come. The Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) determines how much the EU invests in global health, education, climate action, equality, and partnerships.
Young advocates from across Europe and Africa are calling on EU leaders to invest in people and partnerships that allow communities to plan, grow, and thrive.
Their stories are diverse, but each voice makes the same case: Europe’s budget must lay strong foundations for shared prosperity across continents.
Sally Ndwiga
Sally Ndwiga is a Kenyan gender equality advocate and the founder of The Femiscope Initiative. She joined ONE to push for climate and gender policies that reflect lived realities in communities facing rising costs, climate shocks, and unequal access to opportunity.
For Sally, climate change and inequality shape daily life in Githurai, the community where she grew up. Kenya has endured five consecutive failed rainy seasons, alongside food prices rising by up to 30% in vulnerable areas. These pressures fall hardest on women and girls, who absorb rising unpaid care work and are often the first to lose access to education and income.
She joined ONE to challenge this imbalance and advocate for solutions that address climate and gender together. Her work with The Femiscope Initiative focuses on building practical skills and leadership among girls and young women, many from households affected by drought and food shortages.
One participant used digital marketing skills from our program to help a small grocery business recover after climate-driven supply disruptions. Given that women contribute 60–80% of agricultural labor in Kenya, when girls gain skills and leadership spaces, they help build resilience for entire communities.
Sally also sees young people driving change. Kenya’s population is predominantly young, and she describes a generation using digital tools to track floods, promote clean energy, and support women-led microbusinesses after climate impacts.
It’s imperative for EU decisionmakers to invest in a green and fair future through the next long-term budget, allocating at least 50% towards projects that help fight climate change and protect nature.
Kenya emits little of global emissions, but has endured the region’s worst droughts in decades. Supporting Africa’s renewable energy potential and women’s leadership creates jobs, strengthens communities, and promotes shared prosperity. The next MFF can decide whether our future is fragile or hopeful.
Show your support for our advocates and strengthen the call on the EU to deliver for people and planet in the next MFF. Sign our petition now!