| Women in hydro Gender dynamics and improved water outcomes


Economic games are emerging as cost-effective and scalable tools for experiential learning in sustainable natural resource management. By immersing participants in interactive decision- making scenarios, they facilitate knowledge acquisition through experience and allow participants to develop system understanding, problem-solving capacities, and collective action through active engagement in a structured learning environment. However, their gender dynamics remain underexplored. In a recent study published in PNAS Nexus,


Greater female involvement is associated with improved water management outcomes. CRS PHOTO/Shutterstock.com


Steimanis et al examined the positive impact of women’s participation in game-based learning in 56 Indian communities facing water management


challenges. Despite the critical role of community dams in irrigation and domestic water supply across villages in Madhya Pradesh, their maintenance remains inconsistent and water use lacks coordination. This study specifically investigated the role of female participation and leadership in shaping water management outcomes. As the authors explain, India’s government-mandated quotas for women, low- caste community members, and ethnic minorities in village councils have been key to expanding access to public goods, such as drinking water. By enabling women to express their preferences, hold leaders accountable, and engage in decision-making, such policies have improved governance. So Steimanis et al hypothesised that women’s involvement in game-based interventions, particularly as primary water users, would have similar positive effects on dam governance and maintenance. By navigating social dilemmas within the game and exploring solutions, women may be empowered to advocate for better water management in real life. The results suggest that greater female involvement is associated with improved water management


outcomes two years after the intervention. Communities that participated in the games showed significantly greater dam maintenance efforts compared to 28 control communities. Notably, the presence of female leaders correlated with broader participation among women, which in turn was linked to the development of more effective management rules. The authors conclude that incorporating women in game-based learning has the potential to support long-term improvements in resource management, highlighting the importance of inclusive approaches. As this study suggests, communities achieving balanced gender representation in the learning sessions may experience greater maintenance improvements, and the economic benefits could potentially exceed the intervention cost within the first year. Although the authors add these estimates should be interpreted cautiously, the intervention’s low implementation cost and ease of delivery have facilitated its integration into NGO and government programmes, reaching more than 4800 communities across India by 2023.


References


The role of women in learning games and water management outcomes by Ivo Steimanis, Thomas Falk, Lara Bartels, Vishwambhar Duche and Björn Vollan. PNAS Nexus, 2025, 4, pgaf243 https://doi.org/10.1093/pnasnexus/pgaf243


Executive Officer. Inclusion, she believes, is not symbolic but a strategic advantage. As a woman who has built her career in a traditionally male dominated sector, Bouchard has witnessed how inclusion can strengthen decision- making, resilience, and performance. And with the energy transition demanding skills, creativity, and commitment on an unprecedented scale, she says the contribution of women will be essential to its success. “Young professionals, especially women, must see


energy as a field where they can lead, innovate, and make a lasting impact. Beyond our organisations, society as a whole must foster the conditions in which female talent can thrive,” she said. As the Station Manager at Malaysia’s Murum


Hydroelectric Plant in Sarawak, Annevella Anak Mathew also hopes her journey conveys a simple but important message to young professionals - especially young women.


“There is space for you in this industry,” she says. “If my journey encourages even one person to pursue a future in energy, then the responsibility I carry becomes all the more meaningful.” With 16 years of experience in the power utility


sector, Mathew has built a career specialising in hydropower plant operations, high-voltage switching, and power system protection, and is keen to inspire the next generation.


“When I think about the next generation of


professionals entering the energy sector, I hope they inherit a leadership culture grounded in integrity, empathy, and collaboration. The industry is evolving from rigid hierarchies toward more inclusive and adaptive leadership, where technical expertise is complemented by emotional intelligence, ethical awareness, and cross-disciplinary collaboration. Leadership today,” she believes, “is less about authority and more about influence, mentorship, and accountability.”


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