UNESCO WWAP Water and Gender Working Group Position Paper

The Position Paper is based on many months of discussions and analyses led by the UNESCO World Water Assessment Programme (WWAP) Water and Gender Working Group, as reflected in the analysis document Taking Stock of Progress Towards Gender Equality in the Water Domain. It includes diverse contributions from international and regional organizations, governmental institutions, academia, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and local and national women leaders. The work was guided by three overarching frameworks promoting water as a human right, water for the achievement of gender equality and sustainability, and gender-sensitive climate adaptation water policies. Numerous studies and research papers were analysed and supplemented by the Water and Gender Working Group’s expertise; this resulted in an evidence-based synthesis of the current status of gender in the water sector. Key challenges were identified with respect to the human right to water; water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) for all, water for domestic and for agricultural use, and work; climate change adaptation; water governance; education and training needed to hold positions of authority within the water sector; and data gaps on gender in the water sector. The challenges involved in and the priority recommendations for the achievement of gender equality in the water sector are summarized below, with particular attention to both proximate and deep-rooted causes of gender-based inequalities in the sector.