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Gender Equality and Social Inclusion

Gender Equality

and Social Inclusion

IWA has ramped up its efforts to CIWA’s GESI work, a blog about the challenges women face within the
C
apply a gender-transformative training was published to showcase the transboundary water sector and
approach to shift gender norms and approach and outcomes. identify actions that Male Champions
consider the diverse needs of can take to address them.
vulnerable populations throughout Another key vehicle supporting gender
transboundary water institutions and transformation is CIWA’s Male CIWA also updated its GESI Framework
programs. Champions for Women’s Empowerment this year. In addition to capturing work
(MCWE) initiative, which is designed to undertaken since it was written in 2021,
A key strategy is CIWA’s GESI training. work with men to counter cultural the framework now includes a Theory of
The NBI is one of the lead norms about men’s dominance in the Change, which builds on actions to
intergovernmental organizations in water sector. Male champions work with ensure that GESI is effectively captured
SSA that has adopted a other men to foster more by revised indicators in CIWA’s Results
gender-transformative approach and, to gender-equitable spaces for women’s Framework.
build on efforts of NBI centers and Nile participation and leadership in the water
RBOs, CIWA provided a two-day GESI sector and to confront resistance to CIWA will continue to increase its focus
training to the NELSAP, ENTRO, and LVBC. women’s empowerment. CIWA sees this on ensuring that projects commit the
The training was offered in response to as a critical way to create a favorable necessary technical expertise to
requests by each of the organization’s enabling environment for women to facilitate GESI mainstreaming
Gender Focal Points to address become leaders, thus facilitating more throughout the project cycle. CIWA’s
shortcomings in staff capacity to equitable and inclusive decision-making GESI expert has also reviewed and
understand the basics of gender processes about water resources. revised the FCV and Biodiversity
equality and to improve their ability to frameworks to ensure that gender is
mainstream GESI into projects and MCWE hosted monthly virtual considered in those areas.
programs. It was targeted to all staff meetings to identify concrete actions
within each organization and secured that Male Champions can take and CIWA will host a one-day in-person
senior management participation to foster collaboration, as articulated in meeting and a side event to
ensure long-term commitment to GESI. the MCWE Action Plan. Steps have also showcase the MCWE at the Waternet
been taken to recruit new Male Symposium scheduled to take place
Using a participatory and practical Champions, with five new members in Lesotho this fall. Building on
approach, the two-day training joining from Southern and West Africa. findings from the NBI GESI training,
included facilitation of collective CIWA is also planning to co-host a
engagement on revisions of CIWA showcased the MCWE at the Learning Event with Equal Aqua in
organizations’ respective Gender Women in Water Diplomacy Network 2025, which will focus on actions to
Action Plans. Previous gender plans Second Global Network Forum, which make the work environment more
focused on mainstreaming GESI at the generated significant interest in this gender friendly.
project and institutional level. Building strategic and novel approach. To guide
on the findings from surveys from the evolution of the MCWE, CIWA
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Equal Aqua, the revised plans have conducted a survey of Male Champions
now identified concrete actions that can to understand their needs and interests
be taken by staff to address gender and validate the initiative’s new name
barriers such as providing access to and objectives. In September, MCWE
childcare. As part of broader co-hosted an online event in
communications efforts that include partnership with the Women in Water
regular social media outreach to promote Diplomacy Network to explore

42 https://www.worldbank.org/en/topic/water/brief/inclusive-water-institutions-platform
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