Rosinah Mbenya Kithandi is a leading agroecology advocate and food systems transformation expert committed to advancing sustainable, climate-resilient agriculture among smallholder farmers and pastoralists in Kenya and across Africa. She serves as the Country Director of PELUM Kenya, the Kenyan chapter of the Participatory Ecological Land Use Management (PELUM) Association, a regional network of civil society organisations working with small-scale farmers across East, Central, and Southern Africa.

Under Rosinah’s leadership, PELUM Kenya promotes agroecological principles and practices through advocacy, policy engagement, capacity development, networking, and knowledge sharing. Her work is anchored in transforming food systems to improve rural livelihoods while safeguarding ecosystems and biodiversity.

A pioneer of the African Women Leaders in Agroecology, Rosinah plays a strategic role in amplifying women’s leadership in sustainable agriculture. She is actively engaged in advocacy, policy influencing, and multi-stakeholder coordination, and serves on several steering committees shaping agroecology and climate-adaptive agricultural agendas at national, regional, and international levels.

Rosinah is a strong advocate for safe, nutritious organic food systems supported by structured and fair markets for farmers, and for increased public and private financing of agriculture as a climate adaptation strategy. She also champions the integration of indigenous knowledge into sustainable farming models, recognising its critical role in resilience and food sovereignty.

Her leadership has contributed to the organisation of major agroecology conferences and knowledge platforms, strengthening dialogue and collective action across the continent. In addition, Rosinah serves as a Steering Committee Member of the International Society of Food, Agriculture and Environment (ISFAA), where she contributes to advancing global agendas on sustainable agriculture and environmental stewardship.

Through her work, Rosinah continues to shape policy, practice, and partnerships that position agroecology at the centre of Africa’s food systems and climate resilience strategies.