Gender equality and inclusion in WASH at World Water Week
The Institute for Sustainable Futures – University of Technology Sydney will be disseminating work on gender equality and inclusion in WASH and water resources management, and sanitation planning during Stockholm World Water Week.
If you will be in Stockholm – Prof. Juliet Willetts and Prof. Cynthia Mitchell would love to see you there.
Here are the sessions you’re invited to related to gender equality and inclusion in WASH during the 27th – 31st August in Stockholm:
Understanding the gender dimension of water and waste
Sunday 27th August | 14.00-15.30 | Room: NL 357
This session seeks to inform and frame the gender dimension of up-coming high-level discussions on water and waste water; to assess the experiences and tools available in the sector, to provide specific recommendations on how to influence programmes and policy; and to initiate serious discussion amongst key actors on wastewater.
In this session, Juliet Willetts will present research which examined the impact of Plan International’s Gender and WASH Monitoring Tool (GWMT) on the achievement of strategic gender outcomes in Vietnam. Strategic gender outcomes, sometimes referred to as strategic gender interests, are those that move beyond practical changes in roles and relationships between women and men, to those that indicate a shift in power relations towards increased gender equality.
At this session, an ‘Action Piece’ that ISF’s Melita Grant developed for the Global Water Partnership on gender equality and inclusion in water resources management will also be launched. The Action Piece outlines the key ingredients needed to support gender equality and inclusion in water resources management and sector water uses (including WASH), and provides recommendations on how to draw on these key ingredients. It is based on a literature review, interviews with 14 global experts, and a high-level workshop with 25 experts from leading organisations in water governance, water management, gender equality, and inclusion policy and practice. The aim of this Action Piece is to demystify how organisations can take initial and necessary steps towards increasing gender equality.
GWP have also organised a “Meet and greet” session with Juliet Willetts on this work at 12.00 on Sunday 27 August GWP’s booth (#46), Folkets Hus
Is wastewater a She? Linking SDG6.3 (wastewater) and SDG5 (gender)
Monday 28 August | 16.00-17.30 | Room: FH 300
AquaFed / Bremen Overseas Research and Development Association / International Labour Organization / Women for Water Partnership
This event will be broadcast live on Facebook.
Professor Cynthia Mitchell of ISF-UTS will present the keynote in this event. Wastewater is not on top of the list when people talk about gender issues and water. But is wastewater gender neutral? The world can’t reach SDG6 without acknowledging the role of women and SDG5 can’t be reached without managing the full water cycle. Women are more affected by the lack of wastewater treatment than men. This ranges through all three dimensions of sustainable development. Women can and should play a role in the management of wastewater. Experience shows that interventions and actions including the views, inputs and participation of both, men and women, are more sustainable. Cynthia’s role is to gently challenge the audience, and prepare the ground for the expert presentations that follow.
Gender Equality and Goal 6: The Critical Connection
Australian Water Partnership Booth: Launch at 1.15pm Wednesday 30 August
Introduced by AWP CEO Nick Schofield, on Wednesday 30 August (1.15pm) Juliet Willetts will launch the Gender Equality & Goal 6: The Critical Connection paper co-written by Melita Grant and Juliet Willetts from ISF-UTS with Chelsea Huggett and Jane Wilbur from WaterAid for the High-Level Panel on Water (HLPW). The Discussion Paper and accompanying Framing Note delves into gender equality and inclusion issues, and identifies key areas of action for the HLPW, and other international development actors and governments, which can contribute to more sustainable and effective water management outcomes for all people while decreasing the inequalities prevalent in many societies. It also provides a range of case studies and outlines the implications for improving policy and practice. Gender Equality & Goal 6: The Critical Connection can be downloaded at waterpartnership.org.au/publications
The Australian Water Partnership booth at Stockholm World Water Week will have printed copies of the report available for WWW participants on request.
ISF-UTS hopes to see you at World Water Week!
