Melita Grant: Research Director, Institute for Sustainable Futures, UTS

About my work

Melita Grant: Research Director, Institute for Sustainable Futures, UTS

I lead a range of research projects and advocacy initiatives related to increasing gender equality and inclusion in the water sector and beyond. My work includes researching rural piped water projects in Cambodia and Vietnam, evaluating community engagement initiatives in Timor-Leste, and developing a guide for inclusive river basin planning in India. 

I was commissioned by the Australian Government’s Department for Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) funded Australian Water Partnership to develop a Framing Paper, Gender Equality and Goal 6 – the Critical Connection in support of the United Nations High-Level Panel on Water in 2016. The publication synthesised evidence on gender equality and inclusion in relation to the water and sanitation SDG6 targets, has since been revised (in 2019), and is a key document used by the water management sector in international development.  Promotion of the resource at international forums has helped disseminate findings, learnings and recommendations to key stakeholders.

A memorable win

The launch of the Inclusive water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) workplaces database and associated research was the culmination of three years’ research in Cambodia and Indonesia, and provided research partners with practical and accessible outputs to use in their own organisations. The interactive database contains over 180 gender equality, disability and social inclusion (GEDSI) initiatives from organisations across the world, including water and sanitation utilities, government departments, civil society organisations, enterprises and the private sector. My colleagues and I have launched and presented these tools at a range of international forums including at the inaugural Asian Development Bank (ADB) Gender Conference; World Bank events, a webinar hosted by UNICEF, and at OzWater 2021. 

Bio: Melita Grant specialises in water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) and integrated water resources management (IWRM) in international development, with a focus on gender equality and inclusion. She has worked for over 20 years’ in government, university, and civil society sectors. With an academic background in International Relations and Environmental Management, Melita has expertise in a range of sustainable development issues, and has applied this in Indo-Pacific and Australian contexts. 

Melita developed an internationally recognised and utilised gender equality and inclusion database of actions to support workplaces to be more inclusive. She authored the ‘Gender Action Piece’ for the Global Water Partnership which has been translated into three languages (Spanish, French, and Russian), as well as the ‘Gender Equality and Goal 6 – The Critical Connection’ for the Australian Water Partnership. Melita is the Co-Chair of the Australian WASH Reference Group, sits on the Expert Review Panel for the Australian Water Partnership, and is an advisor to the UN-Water Integrated Monitoring Initiative for SDG 6 (clean water and sanitation for all).

Websites

Inclusive WASH workplaces: https://waterforwomen.uts.edu.au/inclusive-workplaces/
Grant, M., Willetts, J., and Huggett, C. (2019) Gender Equality and Goal 6 – The Critical Connection: An Australian Perspective. Canberra: Australian Water Partnership. https://waterpartnership.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/Gender-Equality-and-Goal-6-The-Critical-Connection.pdfhttps://www.gwp.org/en/About/more/news/2021/translations-of-gender-publication-to-boost-action/
Other relevant links: https://www.uts.edu.au/isf/news/building-capacity-more-inclusive-water-sector

Acknowledgement of Country

UTS acknowledges the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation, the Boorooberongal people of the Dharug Nation, the Bidiagal people and the Gamaygal people, upon whose ancestral lands our university stands. We would also like to pay respect to the Elders both past and present, acknowledging them as the traditional custodians of knowledge for these lands.