gender and water in Africa

Mounting evidence suggests that lack of water, sanitation and health (WASH) facilities, such as toilets and sinks, disproportionality affect women’s health, education, safety and dignity ( Fisher et al., 2017 ). The disproportionate effects on women were first recognised In 1990 with ‘gender mainstreaming’, and then in 2015, Sustainable development goal 6 called for special attention for girls concerning WASH ( Fisher et al., 2017) . This acknowledgement of gender as a vital concern due to menstrual health and gender-based violence is something I will further illustrate using case studies of Tanzania and Nairobi.   Menstruation in schools    First, I want to look at menstrual hygiene management (MHM). The World Bank (2021p3) describes privacy, soap and water as vital elements of MHM that allow girls to manage menstruation with "dignity and without discomfort or fear". However, limited toilets, with no or infrequent water supply, pose a threat to MHM, this is seen in Tanzania

In this blog, I will discuss women's roles in water collection in Africa. First, it's essential to understand the prevalence of tradition in Africa, leading to a gender-based division of labour ( Kameri-Mbote, 2008) . In many African countries, customary laws support tradition, which "legitimises the subordination of women", creating gendered power imbalances ( Makina & Moyo, 2016) . This blog will build on this understanding of gender inequalities when looking at water collection.   Water collection is vital, with two-thirds of sub-Saharan Africa having to collect water outside their home, which is mainly a women's role (Graham et al., 2016) . I will use the Makondo parish in Uganda to illustrate the burden of water collection. All 15 villages have no piped water, and most of the water collection is done by females (54% by women and 19% by girls) ( Asaba  et al., 2013) .   Women in Uganda carrying water from a shallow well in plastic jerricans   A time burden

Today marks a week since gender day at COP27, which discussed 3 main points:    1.      women are the most affected by climate change  2.       women are essential to adapt and mitigate climate change effects  3.       women need to be in climate leadership positions  These three points are increasingly relevant when discussing water and gender in Africa, and I will expand on all three of these in future posts.      COP27 is a united nation climate change conference that almost every country’s leaders attend to negotiate policies to mitigate climate change. This blog will focus on thematic gender day at COP27, a day that Sima Bahous, UN's women’s executive director, says is key to    “recognise and augment how women and girls are bringing innovative climate actions and other solutions”  (Women's Agender 2022).    Women bare the brunt … they can also play a crucial role - Amina Mohammed.    Clip of    UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed  at a COP27 talk at 11.05 minutes (

Why water and gender?   Throughout my education, women and their role in rural Africa have often been forgotten or given a passive narration only known for their suffering, as  Wainaina (2006)   highlights. Maybe topics surrounding women, such as period poverty and sexual violence, were too taboo for my high-school teachers, or maybe it just wasn’t important enough. Regardless, my education on women in Africa is limited, and for that reason, I have chosen to expand my knowledge and change my perception (and hopefully yours) of women in Africa.   A few days ago was  ‘International Day of Rural Women , which last year’s theme was  “ Rural Women Cultivating Good Food for A ll ” this theme celebrated rural women, highlighting the essential roles of women in agriculture, water efficiency and climate resilience. I think it is often forgotten that women are powerful and have a very meaning full role in rural Africa. This national day inspired me to choose gender and water as there needs to be