Partner
ZHAW Sustainable
Sustainable Impact Program
The sustainable impact program has granted funding for the project kickoff, ensuring a strong start.
About Us
About Us
Climate Smart Agriculture for Women Empowerment
CSAWE — Climate Smart Agriculture for Women Empowerment — is a Switzerland-registered non-profit association based in the Canton of St. Gallen and registered in the commercial registry.
We work between Switzerland and Kenya to support women and youth through practical training in climate-smart agriculture, cone gardening, regenerative food systems, and community-based food security.
CSAWE started with a simple but strong belief: knowledge should not stay only in universities, reports, or conferences. It should become something people can use in their gardens, in their communities, and in their daily lives.
The connection between Irmak, Emilly and Jürg was shaped through ZHAW and a shared commitment to applied sustainability. Emilly had already completed her master’s studies at ZHAW and was pursuing her PhD in Food Security and Sustainable Agriculture in Kenya when the collaboration began. Jürg, who had been an academic mentor to both Irmak and Emilly at different stages, became an important scientific advisor and bridge in the development of CSAWE.
Today, CSAWE brings together scientific knowledge, practical field experience, and community-based learning. We believe that climate resilience must be built with communities, not for them.
Our Association
Our Association
The founders and advisors leading CSAWE's vision, training, and strategic governance.
Irmak Uzundemir Bischof
President & Co-Founder
Irmak is a regenerative food systems and sustainability professional with an MSc in Preneurship for Regenerative Food Systems from ZHAW and a background in gastronomy, circular food systems, project management, and education. She leads CSAWE’s strategy, partnerships, communication, fundraising, and organizational development from Switzerland.
Dr. Emilly Awuor Okello
Co-Founder & Food Security / Sustainable Agriculture Lead
Emilly is a horticulturist, life sciences expert, lecturer, and food security specialist with a PhD in Food Security and Sustainable Agriculture. Based in Kenya, she leads CSAWE’s agricultural training, farmer engagement, field implementation, and technical development of the climate-smart agriculture curriculum.
Prof. em. Dr. Jürg Grunder
Co-Founder & Scientific Advisor
Jürg is an agronomist and former ZHAW lecturer with long-standing expertise in plant protection, phytomedicine, biological control, and applied agricultural sciences. He supports CSAWE with scientific guidance, strategic advice, and academic network development.
Sponsors & Collaborations
Interview by Fabienne Kirsch
Partner
Mary's Mercy Foundation
Rapperswil – Jona, Switzerland
The foundation has granted funding in creating a framework where conditions can be created so that local women have the opportunity to complete training and are able to earn an independent income for themselves and their families in the future.
Partner
HOFOGI Pilot Project Collaboration
Hope for Girls Association, Migori County, Kenya
Between October 2023 and August 2024, CSAWE partnered with Hope for Girls (HOFOGI), a non-profit in Migori County, Kenya, dedicated to empowering underprivileged women aged 17 to 25 through life skills training. CSAWE provided its Urban Agriculture: Cone Gardens module on HOFOGI's site, transforming their space into a hands-on training center. The pilot project equipped four trainees, including HOFOGI's gardener, with practical skills in creating and maintaining resilient food systems while improving access to organic, nutritious food.
Join us in building climate-resilient food systems.
Support women farmers with training, seeds, and circular agriculture in Kenya.