“Investing in women leadership is smart economics”
The International Conference Community and Water Services; challenges for sustainability, was held from September 29th through October 1st in Kandy, Sri Lanka.
In view of the urgent need to provide water services for an ever burgeoning Asian population, it is useful to take stock of current status in planning future activities, the conference announcement read. This conference plans to provide a platform for sharing knowledge, strategies, experiences and best practices of the region’s communities with special reference to the role of women.
Expertise of women
The conference, the first of its kind in the region, brought together ministers, local authorities, academia and executives from the water sector with 300 delegates from community based organisations to discuss the conditions for sustainable use and maintenance of decentralized water systems in rural environments. The Women for Water Partnership was invited to contribute the knowledge and expertise of women and their organizations active in this field.
Empowerment is key
In her keynote address on Women Leadership in Water and Food Security, WfWP President Alice Bouman-Dentener addressed the Rio/Dublin Principles on Integrated Water Resources Management. She highlighted the importance of empowerment of women as a starting point for sustainable water management and accelerated community development.
“Investing in women leadership is smart economics”, Mrs. Bouman said. “Enabling women from local communities to participate on an equal footing in water supply and sanitation development and management balances social, economic and environmental needs and furthers sustainability.”
Sri Lanka: a success story
WfWP’s President commended Sri Lanka for its impressive achievements on community water supply: 3,500 Community Based Organisations (CBOs) providing water for 3.5 million people. The experience of community water supply projects in Sri Lanka and its gender related components is of seminal use to development in this field. It is a success story that should be made known to the world, she concluded.
Climate change awareness is essential
Kusum Athukorala, President of NetWwater and WfWP steering committee member for Asia, chaired the session onEnvironmental and climate vulnerability in community water supply schemes. She concluded that climate change awareness of community level is essential in view of the need to develop adaptive strategies.Community participation: a major success factor
Hon. Princess Kabakumba Masiko, Minister for the Presidency and Kampala Capital Cities Authority, Uganda and the WfWP President co-chaired the session on CBO concept, gender and empowerment. In a lively discussion experts and community representatives addressed the strengths and weaknesses of CBOs. Next to institutional & financial capacity and strong leadership, there are social factors that determine the success of a CBO. Community participation is a major success factor provided stakeholders, including women, are involved in all stages - from development through implementation to management of the community water supply. Their strong continued involvement and ownership determines the sustainability of the scheme.
Women leadership
Over dinner the WfWP President and Kusum Athukorala, Chair of NetWwater and member of the Conference Steering Committee had a substantial discussion with Hon. Dinesh Gunawardana, Minister of Water Supply and Drainage of Sri Lanka on Women Leadership in Water and their contribution to making community water supply sustainable.
The International Conference Community and Water Services; challenges for sustainability, was held from September 29th through October 1st in Kandy, Sri Lanka.
In view of the urgent need to provide water services for an ever burgeoning Asian population, it is useful to take stock of current status in planning future activities, the conference announcement read. This conference plans to provide a platform for sharing knowledge, strategies, experiences and best practices of the region’s communities with special reference to the role of women.
Expertise of women
The conference, the first of its kind in the region, brought together ministers, local authorities, academia and executives from the water sector with 300 delegates from community based organisations to discuss the conditions for sustainable use and maintenance of decentralized water systems in rural environments. The Women for Water Partnership was invited to contribute the knowledge and expertise of women and their organizations active in this field.
Empowerment is key
In her keynote address on Women Leadership in Water and Food Security, WfWP President Alice Bouman-Dentener addressed the Rio/Dublin Principles on Integrated Water Resources Management. She highlighted the importance of empowerment of women as a starting point for sustainable water management and accelerated community development.
“Investing in women leadership is smart economics”, Mrs. Bouman said. “Enabling women from local communities to participate on an equal footing in water supply and sanitation development and management balances social, economic and environmental needs and furthers sustainability.”
Sri Lanka: a success story
WfWP’s President commended Sri Lanka for its impressive achievements on community water supply: 3,500 Community Based Organisations (CBOs) providing water for 3.5 million people. The experience of community water supply projects in Sri Lanka and its gender related components is of seminal use to development in this field. It is a success story that should be made known to the world, she concluded.
Climate change awareness is essential
Kusum Athukorala, President of NetWwater and WfWP steering committee member for Asia, chaired the session onEnvironmental and climate vulnerability in community water supply schemes. She concluded that climate change awareness of community level is essential in view of the need to develop adaptive strategies.Community participation: a major success factor
Hon. Princess Kabakumba Masiko, Minister for the Presidency and Kampala Capital Cities Authority, Uganda and the WfWP President co-chaired the session on CBO concept, gender and empowerment. In a lively discussion experts and community representatives addressed the strengths and weaknesses of CBOs. Next to institutional & financial capacity and strong leadership, there are social factors that determine the success of a CBO. Community participation is a major success factor provided stakeholders, including women, are involved in all stages - from development through implementation to management of the community water supply. Their strong continued involvement and ownership determines the sustainability of the scheme.
Women leadership
Over dinner the WfWP President and Kusum Athukorala, Chair of NetWwater and member of the Conference Steering Committee had a substantial discussion with Hon. Dinesh Gunawardana, Minister of Water Supply and Drainage of Sri Lanka on Women Leadership in Water and their contribution to making community water supply sustainable.
