When disaster strikes, who do you picture leading the charge? Too often, the image of a first responder defaults to a man in uniform. In Kenya, a groundbreaking EU-funded training programme is shattering stereotypes and proves that skilled leadership, not gender, determines who saves lives in a crisis.
From training to real-world action: How preparedness pays off
Under the EU CBRN Risk Mitigation Centres of Excellence Initiative, a workshop in Kenya equipped 22 emergency responders from eight agencies with critical skills. The training covered everything from managing hazardous spills to combating disinformation, skills that were put to the test just 24 hours later.
A deadly traffic accident involving hazardous materials struck near Nairobi, and among the first responders was Zakina Mallya, Lead Paramedic and EMS Team Lead for St John Ambulance. Fresh from the EU training, she took command for coordinating triage, ambulance deployments, and multi-agency communication.
"The principles I learned gave me the confidence to lead my team and make rapid, life-saving decisions alongside other agencies," Mallya explains. But, in situations like this one, such intervention is not only about technical skills; it is about women owning their expertise in a space where their voices are often sidelined.
Breaking barriers: Why diverse leadership matters in crises
Mallya’s experience highlights a larger truth: emergency response is stronger when leadership reflects the diversity of the communities it serves. Yet women and marginalised genders still face systemic barriers in high-stakes fields like CBRN (Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear) response.
This training changed that dynamic: Mallya didn’t just manage the medical response. Instead, she stepped up as a media spokesperson, a role frequently dominated by men. "I was able to communicate clearly, choose the right words, and provide accurate information without hesitation," she says.
Beyond the incident: Building resilience through inclusion
The ripple effects of this training extend far beyond one emergency. Participants like Mallya are now mentors, trainers, and advocates, proving that investing in underrepresented groups doesn’t just fill gaps, but rather strengthens entire systems.
Every crisis tests a community’s preparedness, but who gets to lead in those moments shouldn’t be determined by gender. The EU’s CBRN initiative is setting a new standard, showing that when training is inclusive, response is stronger.
This International Women’s Day, let’s recognise the unsung heroes, the paramedics, scientists, logisticians, and communicators, who defy expectations and redefine leadership in emergencies. Because when everyone has a seat at the table, everyone is safer.
The question isn’t whether women and marginalised genders belong on the frontlines, but rather how fast we can clear the path for them to lead. And this is one of the guiding principles the European Union CBRN Centres of Excellence strive for.