As we celebrate International Women’s Day, we reflect on the critical role women play in water collection, management, and sustainability. Here are some key aspects of their contributions:
Primary Stakeholders: In many communities, women are tasked with water collection and usage, making them primary stakeholders in water management decision processes. Women’s involvement in water resource management can lead to better economic and environmental benefits for local communities.
Unique Perspectives: Women can often bring unique perspectives to any deliberations centred on accessibility to water, frequency of supply, and operational mechanisms that ensure equitable distribution and, ultimately, long-term sustainability of the resource. Consequently, the well-being of communities, including their health and productive activities, is safeguarded.
Challenges Faced: On the other hand, the onerous task of water collection often robs women of the opportunity to fulfil their dreams through education, care for their families, or seek employment in the labour market.
Despite the vital role women play in water management and sustainability, women remain underrepresented in decision-making positions.
In the Caribbean, women’s role in water management must be promoted, supported, recognised and celebrated. Here are a few examples:
- Knowledge Transfer: In Jamaica, women farmers have been instrumental in adopting and teaching rainwater harvesting techniques to combat water scarcity during droughts. This practice has improved agricultural productivity and water conservation.
- Community Leadership: In Trinidad and Tobago, women-led community groups have spearheaded initiatives to clean and maintain local water sources, ensuring access to safe drinking water for their communities.
- Agro-Biodiversity: Female farmers in Dominica have preserved traditional farming methods that rely on diverse crop systems. These methods are more resilient to water shortages and contribute to food security.
- Policy Advocacy: Organizations like the Caribbean Natural Resources Institute (CANARI) have supported women in advocating for gender-sensitive water policies, ensuring their voices are heard in decision-making processes.
The Call to Action
Furthermore, the GWP-C calls on governments, international and regional financial institutions, and the private sector to support gender-responsive investment that will help achieve our shared vision of a water-secure Caribbean. Such an investment will ensure that all genders' unique needs, roles, and contributions (especially women who remain unrepresented in the water sector) are considered in water management and policy-making.
Why it Matters
You might wonder why this matters. Below are some reasons.
- It will facilitate inclusive decision-making that considers diverse experiences and responsibilities related to water use and multiple perspectives.
- Women should have equal education and training opportunities as primary water users. Investing in their education will unlock women’s potential and yield numerous benefits tied to community resilience and sustainable water practices.
- A gender-responsive approach to investments will address unintended systemic inequalities, such as unequal access to water resources or decision-making processes. It will foster reasonableness within our societies.
- Research suggests that women are disproportionately affected by water scarcity and climate change; investing in them will undoubtedly enhance their capacity to adapt and contribute to climate-resilient water systems.
Today, the GWP-C salutes these women and all others who have made a significant impact in managing water resources sustainably in the Caribbean.