Page 6 - Male Champion Profiles

01

Standing up for

the empowerment

of women

What is the Male Champions for Women’s

Empowerment (MCWE) initiative?

In 2023, the Cooperation in International Waters in Africa (CIWA) launched the Male Champions
for Women’s Empowerment (previously the Male Champion Forum) to work with a cadre of men
who pledge to take steps to support the active participation of women within the transboundary
water context.

CIWA believes that the Male Champions are uniquely placed to engage with other men to advocate
for gender equality and women’s empowerment within transboundary water organizations at the
local, national, regional, and continental level.

Mission of the MCWE initiative

Operating in a context that is male-dominated and heavily influenced by
patriarchal cultural and social norms, the transboundary water sector tends to
stereotype women as being water users rather than recognizing them as people
who should have autonomy to make decisions about water use and management.

CIWA has therefore designed a program to foster a cadre of men to spur changes
and to stand up for women’s empowerment.

CIWA believes that engaging men is key to transformative change and that
working directly with pioneering men can help overcome male resistance to
women having equal roles.