Empowering WOMEN

"Women play a central part in the provision, management and sefeguarding of water . This pivotal role of women as providers and users of water and guardians of the living environment has seldom been reflected in institutional arrangements for the development and management of water resources. Acceptance and implementation of this principle requires positive policies to address women's specific needs and to equip and empower women to participate at all levels in water resources programmes, including decision-making and implementation, in ways defined by them." (Principle No. 3 Dublin statement - International Conference on Water and Environment, January 1992, Dublin, Ireland)

As a result of the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro (1992) and the Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing (1995), the need to recognize the role of women in the development and management of natural resources, and to ensure their participation, has been widely accepted. Recent approaches to gender participation aim at considering women in relation to other groups with distinct stakes and roles in the provision and maintenance of water and sanitation services. The time has come to take stock of experience gained and to achieve a clearer understanding of the contribution gender participation makes to critical aspects of community water and sanitation programmes. With this in mind, and in order to reduce the gap between theory and actually implementing urgently needed action, UNESCO has organized several workshops and seminars in Africa.

A workshop on "Water resources in arid and semi-arid zones. Exchange of knowledge and cultural practices: the contribution of women" was organized by UNESCO in co-operation with UNICEF and UNDP in Mauritania, in November 1996. Experts from the Ministries of Water Resources and women's Affairs of nine African countries (Burkina Faso, Djibouti, Côte d'Ivoire, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Senegal, Chad, Togo) participated in the workshop.

Nouakchott, Mauritania 1996

As a follow up to this workshop, the Côte d'Ivoire Ministry of Family and women's Affairs, launched an integrated project in the province of Oumé, using Kouméfla as a pilot village. Within the framework of this project UNESCO participated in the organization of a training seminar for community leaders on hygiene and water resource management (Oumé, June 1998).

A seminar on " women's participation in water supply and sanitation " was organized in Brazzaville, Congo in May 1997 to evaluate the current situation and prepare recommendations for national authorities and NGO's.

A regional training course on "Gender and development ", with particular focus on water resources management, was organized in Nouakchott, Mauritania, in October 1997 with the co-operation of the International Water and Sanitation Center (IRC).

wpe1.jpg (3669 bytes) A regional seminar on "Women's Participation and Gender Consideration in Water Supply and Sanitation Services" was organized by UNESCO in co-operation with UNICEF, UNDP and the World Bank in South Africa, in November 1997. Representatives from 16 African countries (Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, South Africa, Lesotho, Namibia, Swaziland, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Malawi, Zambia, Angola, Mauritius, Tanzania, Madagascar and Uganda) were invited to evaluate policies, strategies and tools that could have a positive impact on women's lives. The seminar was the first stage in a series of regional consultations among regional actors, which will lead to the development of guidelines and the implementation of national programmes. As a follow up to the workshop UNESCO, UNDP/World Bank Water Sanitation Program and UNICEF will co-operate in the carrying out of pilot activities at national and regional level, the design and development of improved manuals and tool kits, the organization of courses for the training of trainers, and assisting countries to prepare and implement their national action plans.