Hydropower research |
Right: Women transport water canisters on their heads in Uganda. New research shows that the management of water resources is still male dominated
j countries rated their performance at only 54 out of 100 on mainstreaming gender in water resources management.
In many developing countries, women are the de
facto water decision makers in households. Research suggests that when women are involved in the management of water resources, their communities achieve better economic and environmental benefits. As the world’s population grows and climate change intensifies water scarcity, women are key to providing more sustainable access to this finite resource. “Half of all countries reported limited or no
References Hydropower development potential at non-powered dams: Data needs and research gaps by Carly Hansen, Mirko Musa, Colin Sasthav, Scott DeNeale, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, 1 Bethel Valley Rd, Oak Ridge, TN, 37830, US. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews 145 (2021) 111058
https://doi.org/10.1016/j. rser.2021.111058 Online April 2021
The International Hydropower Association’s Renewable Energy Innovations Hub can be found at
www.hydropower.org/ innovations
https://www.gwp.org/ globalassets/global/ activities/act-on-sdg6/ advancing-towards-gender- maintreaming-in-wrm---report. pdf
achievement of gender objectives in their water management policies and plans,” said Darío Soto-Abril, Executive Secretary of Global Water Partnership (GWP), one of the agencies involved in the data collection. “While some reasons for this low number might be a lack of robust data collection and monitoring tools, the number is still low enough for us to say: it’s past time for things to change.” To find out more behind the numbers, further analysis was done, and in-depth interviews were conducted in 23 countries. The report finds that although gender and inclusion policies have been developed in many countries there is still a gap between policy and practice: policies are not always accompanied by concrete action plans, nor are they adequately funded.
“One of the most important changes countries can
make is to enable women to participate at all levels in decision-making about the use of water resources. This has to be a commitment at the highest political level and backed up with actions,” said Soto-Abril. Joakim Harlin, Chief of the Freshwater Ecosystems Unit of UNEP, noted: “If there is good news, it’s that there’s been a slight improvement compared to the baseline in 2017. We should also make clear that countries doing well in gender mainstreaming can be found all over the world, and in all income categories.
34 | October 2021 |
www.waterpowermagazine.com
The ability to integrate gender considerations in water policies is not related exclusively to levels of development – it’s also a question of having the political will to change cultural norms.” The report showcases a range of practices on how countries have advanced women’s participation in water management and provides recommendations on how to replicate and upscale those practices, seen through the lens of seven enablers. In the Philippines, for example, according to the
report, the Magna Carta of Women 2019 requires 40 percent participation of women in the Development Councils, which are responsible for planning water, sanitation, and hygiene, and water resources management. In South Africa, all departments are given a mandate from the President to establish Transformation Units responsible for gender mainstreaming and the empowerment of women and youth as well as people with disabilities. “It is not just about increasing women’s
representation in councils and committees or coming up with a new general legal framework on gender protection, however important those actions are,” said Liza Debevec, Senior Gender and Social Inclusion Specialist at GWP. “It is also about integrating gender issues in all policies in a cross-cutting manner, linking water to other relevant policy areas.” Research is also being undertaken to help identify and encourage best practice and practical approaches on gender equality in the hydropower sector. The World Bank, in partnership with the
International Hydropower Association and the Global Women’s Network for the Energy Transition, has launched a survey which focuses on the role of women in all parts of the hydropower sector. All practitioners, both men and women in the hydropower sector, are encouraged to respond. The gender gap survey can be completed at
www.surveymonkey.com/r/KK8WJHW ●
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53
