As the president of WfWP I will continue to focus on SDG 5 (gender equality) and SDG 6 (water). Women have valuable knowledge and expertise in dealing with water, but this is not recognized. Different reports show that only 17% of women work in the water sector worldwide. This is inclusive of administrative jobs. Women’s issues are not prioritized. This is the reason why we are hardly ever represented at the opening sessions of conventions, why we have separate women’s fora and why our recommendations are only included in the final outcome after much insistence. ​

Getting financial support is another issue – not only for WfWP, but for all women organisations. The assumption is apparently that women cannot handle big projects or deal with vast amounts of money. Gender equality should be a fact by now, but sadly it’s not. That is why WfWP advocates getting women at higher decision-making levels. Together with our members and partnerships we have to ensure that women get better educated and empowered so they can find employment in the water sector.

Mariet Verhoef-Cohen