| Women in developing countries are often referred to as water
suppliers and water managers. Daily collecting of water is almost always the
responsibility of the women, and it is the women who decide on how it is to be used within
the household. However, women are almost entirely absent from the professional sector. It is essential that women become more involved as advisers, planners, scientists, engineers, in all areas from academia to government services. |
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| Lack of women at the advisory and policy making
levels is largely due to the disparity between the levels of women's and menís education.
In addition to basic literacy, it is also necessary to consider the type of education and
the subjects studied. Statistics (Practical Guide-Statistics and Indicators on Education,
UNESCO 1995) show that in Sub-Saharan Africa few women have access to higher education and
women's participation in agriculture, forestry, hydrology and other water sciences-related
educational programmes is very poor. One of the aims of the Special Project is to
facilitate women's access to water sciencesí education. Within the framework of the UNESCO Special Project, fellowships have been granted to African women scientists who would otherwise not have been able to continue their university studies. |
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Studies and reports have been carried out in different fields
of water sciences, including doctoral theses on "Women and Water Resources Supply and
Use", presented by Mrs R. Permala at the University of Mauritius ; "
Chronological Studies of Geographical Patterns of Seasonal Droughts in Kenya by use of
Geographical Information Systems ", presented by Mrs O.R. Amunyelet at the University
of Nairobi, " Connaissances acquises sur les sciences de líeau " (Acquired
Knowledge of Water Sciences) presented by Mrs S. Assian at the University of Mali, among
others. Another way to improve women's participation in studies and research would be to facilitate their access to the new means of communication by training them to use computers and Internet. Promoting women's access to the networks will enable them not only to exchange their knowledge, their ideas and experiences but also to improve south-south co-operation. |
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