Water and Gender: Is there a link?
At first glance, you may think what has gender got to do with water? Water issues are faced by both men and women, right? This blog will investigate some water issues in the context of African development with a focus on gender to reveal some of the often-underrepresented challenges that are exclusively posed on women. Through aspects from provision to management of water this blog will reflect how water is far from gender neutral. Why water and gender? The right to safe access to water is globally recognised as a core human right and yet 1 in 3 people live without safe access to water ( WHO, 2019 ). In efforts to address the gendered reality of water management and development, the United Nations proclaimed 2005-2015 the ‘International Decade for Action: Water for life’ followed by 2018-2028 being named the ‘Water for Sustainable development’ decade in efforts to promote sustainable development recognising that: “As women play a central role in water provision and management, a sp