Groundwater provides half of the drinking water worldwide and plays an increasingly important role in the face of growing water scarcity, fuelled by climate change and socio-economic and demographic trends. Just as it is the case with surface water, women’s roles in groundwater access and usage, and their contributions to groundwater management are usually undervalued and under-recognized. Women (and other groups such as youth and differently abled people) are critically underrepresented in water-related institutions and programmes, leading to a sharp gender gap in governance, employment, knowledge, and economic opportunities. Urgent and concrete actions are needed to highlight and effectively address gender inequalities in groundwater.
This side event showcases the work of the WWAP-led Global Multi-Stakeholders Coalition to accelerate progress towards gender equality in water with focus on solutions and good practices. It also discusses the formulation of a joint strategy by the Multi-stakeholder Coalition that fits within the Water Action Agenda for the UN 2023 Water Conference. The session builds on the outcomes of the African Regional Consultations (Addis Ababa, June 2022) and paves the way for integrated educational programmes, promoting gender equality among future water leaders.
The event features messages from ‘water and gender advocates’ supporting the WWAP Call for Action Initiative, followed by presentations of actions by the co-convenors: AMCOW, UNESCO IWSSM / UNOSD, and UNU-FLORES. A focus on practical tools and best practices aims to develop a joint proposal for the UN 2023 Water Conference.