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Professional Women in WASH set the stage for their participation in the 9th World Water Forum (WWF), Dakar 2022

Thursday, 19 August 2021
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The AfWA Professional Women Networks in WASH in collaboration with the Executive Secretariat of the 9th World Water Forum (WWF) held a webinar for networks of professional women in the WASH sector on 14th July 2021.  The theme for the webinar was, ''Strategic Positioning and Visibility of African WASH Professional Women Networks” and was to serve as prelude to the 9th World Water Forum to be held in Dakar, Senegal from March 21 to 26, 2022.

This digital women's forum was a way of publicizing the next World Water Forum and to mobilize women networks within and outside the Pan-African Association to actively and strategically participate in the WWF. In all a total of 264 participants took part in the webinar comprising of the AfwA Women’s Network, the African Women Sanitation Professionals Network (AWSPN) and Women groups under the WRC.  Participants came from all the African regional blocks: West, East, North, Southern and Central Africa and also America, Asia and Europe.

The webinar was hosted by Dr. Rose Kaggwa, the 2nd Vice President of AfWA STC and the Director of Business and Scientific Services NWSC, Uganda and Dr Leticia Ackun, the Gender Specialist from AfWA. It was moderated by Dr. Barbara Senkwe, Senior WASH Governance Advisor, USAID and chairperson of the AWSPN in Zambia with the support of the AfWA Professional Women’s Network coordinators, Geraldine Mpouma Logmo and Faustina Boachie and a committee made up of all the Presidents of the AfWA women’s networks.

Dr. Rose Kaggwa gave the welcome address acknowledging the presence of all the invited guests and speakers including participants and thanking them for responding positively to the invitation.  She gave the purpose of the webinar as an opportunity to mobilise all professional women networks in WASH for the WWF and provide participants with meaningful information about the WWF.  She also gave a rundown of the programme and highlighted the need for women to actively participate in the upcoming WWF.

Mr. Abdoulaye SÈNE, the Executive Secretary of the World Water Forum gave an update on the upcoming WWF in Dakar 2022, preparations made so far, the prospects for women and encouraged maximum participation of all women, especially the various networks. He shared the outline of activities lined up as preparation towards the WWF and solicited for maximum participation of all in these upcoming activities.  There was an upcoming stakeholders’ workshop scheduled for October which he encouraged all to participate to be abreast with preparations towards the WWF.

Dr. Leticia Ackun gave an overview of the African Women Professionals in WASH networks.  The presentation covered two networks; AfWA Professional Women’s Network in Water, Sanitation and the Environment and the African Women Sanitation Professionals Network (AWSPN).  She gave a background on the state of women’s participation in WASH, the challenges, and opportunities; why women are underrepresented and what can be done to address these challenges; and the need to increase women’s professional involvement in WASH.  The networks major focus was advocacy for more women in leadership roles in WASH through personal and group effort; women led WASH businesses increasing and growing through access to finance and technical support; more women and girls attending WASH related trainings; women led WASH activities at community level; and greater visibility of women at local and international levels to enhance their participation in policy and technical designs.  She concluded by sharing the aims and objectives of the networks, their membership and activities carried out over the period.

The keynote address was delivered by Mrs. Olushola OLAYIDE from the Africa Union Commission on the theme, ''Strategic Positioning and Visibility of African WASH Professional Women Networks. She delivered her speech on the background of the COVID-19 pandemic and the WWF theme which is, “Water Security for Peace and Sustainable Development".  She reiterated that to make a great impact at this time, Africa cannot afford to neglect the crucial role of women hence the theme of the webinar was very key and of utmost importance to facilitate Africa to achieve Peace, the Transformation Agenda 2030 on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in realization of the Agenda 2063: ‘The Africa we want’. She emphasized the role of women not only as managers in the house to provide for domestic water supply but very essential to achieve water security. According to her, agenda 2063 highlighted that ‘No society can reach its full potential, unless it empowers women and youth and removes all obstacles to women’s full participation in all areas of human endeavours. Africa must provide an enabling environment for its women, children and young people to flourish and reach their full potential’.

A panel of experts in the WASH sector was constituted to discuss on the theme “World Water Forum, Dakar 2022 - How can we raise the voice of women in this forum?” They comprised of the President of Senegal Women Network - Madam Fatou Ndiaye; the Managing Director of Nkana Water and Sewerage Company, Zambia - Diana Nkasha Makwaba; a citizen/beneficiary of WASH services - Benedicte Tuffour; and a Communication Expert/Coordinator of AfWA Women Professionals Network - Geraldine Mpouma Logmo. Discussions centered around the role of the Women networks in achieving the SDGs, the major challenges faced by the women groups, the benefits of including women in the planning and implementation of activities and efforts to drive achievements of the SDG6 targets. Participants were given the opportunity to ask questions and contribute to the discussion. Madam Lesha Witmer from the Women for Water Partnership in her contribution called for more integrated approach by all the Women’s network to work towards a common good to make a greater impact.

Madam Faustina Boachie, the Chief Manager for LICSU in GWCL, Ghana gave the closing remark summarizing the key points and showing her gratitude to the planning committee, the various speakers, presenters, panelists, and the participants for a successful webinar.

At the end of proceedings, it became apparent the need for more involvement of women in WASH delivery and more collaboration among the various professional women networks to have maximum participation of women for the upcoming WWF. It was a well-attended webinar with 264 participants and very engaging.  Evaluation by participants indicated an average of 4.8 out of 5.0 as satisfaction rate. A second webinar will be communicated in due course.  We thank all who found time to participate.

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