Water is essential for life, livelihoods, and economic progress. Yet access to it is not experienced equally. This year’s World Water Day theme, focuses on water and gender, bringing attention to the disproportionate burden women and marginalised groups experience in accessing, managing, and conserving water. Recognising and addressing these inequalities is important not only for achieving water security, but also for building inclusive and peaceful societies.
Across the globe, women play a central role in water collection, usage, management at the household and community level. However, they often have limited representation in decision-making processes related to water governance. This gap between responsibility and representation creates systemic inefficiencies and reinforces inequities. When access to safe and reliable water is unequal, it can increase existing social and economic challenges, affecting health, education, and livelihoods particularly for women and girls.
For example, they often walk long distances each day to collect water, limiting their ability to pursue education, paid work, or other opportunities. The physical burden and time constraints not only impact their health and well-being but also reinforce dependency. In contrast, when women are included in water governance like in village water committees or local decision-making bodies; there is a visible shift in outcomes. Women’s participation leads to more efficient and sustainable water management practices.
Addressing the water–gender imbalance requires a shift towards more inclusive and participatory approaches. Ensuring equitable access to water resources, investing in infrastructure that reduces the burden of water collection, and strengthening the role of women in water governance are critical steps. At the same time, awareness and behavioural change at the community level can play a significant role in promoting responsible water use and shared accountability.
Community-led initiatives, revival of traditional water sources, and adoption of efficient technologies can deliver stronger impact when they actively include and empower women. Bridging these gaps can significantly improve the effectiveness and sustainability of water interventions.
For industry, water stewardship must extend beyond operational efficiency to a broader commitment towards equitable and inclusive water management. Businesses have a critical role to play in supporting community-based water initiatives, investing in sustainable water practices, and enabling partnerships that prioritise access and inclusion. Integrating gender considerations into these efforts can enhance impact, strengthen resilience, and contribute to long-term sustainability goals.
For instance, corporates must ensure women’s participation in the governance of water projects and invest in livelihood and capacity-building programs for them in water-stressed communities. Such approaches not only make interventions more inclusive but also strengthen community ownership.
When water is managed as a shared resource, with fairness and inclusivity at its core, it can become a powerful enabler of trust and collaboration. In this way, advancing the agenda of water and gender is not just a development priority; it is a pathway to achieving “Water for Peace.”
