Africa is the most water stressed continent on earth. To this end there is a need to optimally utilise the water resources in such a way as to achieve more per drop. Water of the right quality in the right quality is required to help Africa accomplish its Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) of “reducing by half access of those people who do not have access to safe water”.
According Principle 3 of the Dublin- Rio Principles:
Women play a central part in the Provision, Management and Safeguarding of Water
It is a fact of life that women play a key role in the collection and safeguarding of water for domestic purposes and, in many instances, agricultural use. At the same time, women play a less powerful role than men in the management, problem analysis and decision making related to water.
IWRM demands the role of women to be acknowledged and elevated
In order to ensure full and effective participation of women at all levels of decision making, account should be taken of approaches that public agencies use to assign social, economic and cultural functions to men and women.
There is an important link between gender equality and sustainable water management.
Participation of men and women playing a decision making role at all levels of water management can expedite the achievement of sustainability, while integrated and sustainable water resources management greatly contributes to gender equality by improving access of both women and men to water and water-related services, thus serving their daily needs.
Women should be capacitated to assume this important role of effective Integrated Water Resources Management.
Notes for use by Honourable Deputy Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs Rejoice Mabudafhasi while chairing a session on Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) at Rio+20
