Water and Gender in Africa

In light of the recent COP28, I wanted to use this next blog to explore the relationship between climate change and gender in the context of Africa.   Countries paying the price As the world gets warmer, the countries least to blame are the ones who pay the highest price . Anthropogenic reasons for climate change come from countries responsible for the highest fossil fuel emissions , not African nations. However, there are many examples of how climate change is impacting the African continent. For example, some African countries experiencing rising surface temperatures may fall victim to the effects of the Clausius-Clapeyron equation. That, the  warmer the surface temperatures, the holding capacity for rain in clouds rises exponentially. This results in more drought periods for some and less frequent, but heavier, precipitation events for others ( Tabari, 2020 ). These effects can be seen as increased flooding, decline in crop yield, failing livestock and livelihoods ( Pa...

International Women's Day 2023 rested on the agenda of ' Embrace Equity '. Equity, that ' equal opportunities aren't enough '; more work must be done to close the gender gap in order to reach SDG 5 of gender equality.   The International Water Association (IWA) held their annual International Women's Day webinar series this year, addressing the role of African women working in the WASH sector. 5 speakers from 5 different countries (Fig.1) spoke openly, honestly and motivatingly about their career experiences. Figure.1: speakers for the IWA webinar This webinar sparked contemplation and really allowed me to hone in on the importance of listening to female voices. As WASH organisations aim to 'mainstream gender' in their inclusion and equity promises, these women reiterated to me the importance of doing so. Not only that, but a reminder that whilst we must listen to women, we must also remember that not every women's experience is the same ( Ndesa...

I establish in my previous post the urgency to prioritise women's reproductive health. As  period poverty is a global issue regardless, a lack of equal access to water and sanitation facilities for women in parts of Africa, makes an already tough situation, much worse. Figure 1: UN Women, 2019 As a woman living in the UK, concerns surrounding our period tend not to be about finding clean, running water. Or if we can find a sanitary, safe toilet. Therefore, westernised minds must be careful not to inflict a western problem solving approach onto countries with differing social requirements. Taking a lesson out of Wainaina's piece on 'How to Write About Africa' , we should think purposefully about Africa in a way that does not make us a removed observer of social issues, nor an unflawed saviour.  "Decolonisation goes beyond diversity and inclusion. It is the commitment to make marginalised communities un-marginalised by recognising them as part of the whole and welcom...

Tamara Magwashu grew up in South Africa without access to sanitary products. Sharing 1 toilet between the  village, in a community without running water. When her mother had to make choices between buying food or sanitary products, Tamara had to utilise alternative ways of taking care of her menstruation. Tamara always knew the unfairness of this situation, and now as a ' Forbes 30 under 30'  nominated business woman, she has created an initiative to provide free sanitary pads to schools across South Africa. Tamara has dedicated her life's work to tackling period poverty.  Tamara's mission against period poverty But what exactly is this term Period Poverty ? A global issue referring to how women and girls are unable to access the sanitary products and resources necessary for a safe and clean period. UNESCO reports that 1 in 10 girls miss school during their period in Sub-saharan Africa - and in South Africa alone, 3.7 million girls cannot get access to necessary...

When deciding on what aspect of water and development in Africa I wanted to explore in this blog, I gravitated to the subtopic of ‘gender’. As a woman, I find topics surrounding gender inequality and female empowerment intriguing; viewing social matters through a feminist lens. Thus, I think this blog will be a suitable opportunity to view physical discussions of water alongside a social impact perspective, searching for links and providing more clarity between gender & water. A sustainable future? A pertinent place to start may be the 2030 sustainable development goals: 17 goals set out by the United Nations to lead all countries to a more sustainable and developed future. What has always stuck out to me is the question of ‘What is the most important SDG?’ or maybe the question is ‘If there is even a most important one?’. Whilst the main goal is ‘No Poverty’, some have argued that clean water and sanitation is perhaps most vital for a sustainable future ( Lampert & Papadong...