Women and Water diplomacy: women role in deliberations and implementation of international water- related agreements Lesha Witmer, Chair Standing Committee environment, sustainable development & water IFBPW

Just to remind you: Why is water a women’s issue Majority of the users (domestic, agriculture, food, business, health care) Main consumers > influence quality, regulations (tap; bottle) Main suppliers in many parts of the world (Easy) access to safe water; prerequisite for health, education and economic activity/ - independency Sanitation is about health, dignity and safety Motivate and educate; take action 2

Why is it a women’s issue? More and more women have professional education in the field Are experts / professionals – but rarely in decision-making positions Perform tasks were they can influence water use: Work as health care workers, facility management, educators, etc. Manage and own (small) businesses Women empowerment principles. 3

Art and practice of conducting negotiations between representatives of states Usually refers to international diplomacy, by professional diplomats with regard to issues of peace-making, economics, culture, environment, and human rights. In an informal or social sense, diplomacy is the employment of tact to gain strategic advantage or to find mutually acceptable solutions to a common challenge, phrasing of statements in a non-confrontational, or polite manner Advocacy with respect. Diplomacy 4

(founding) member of Women for Water Partnership > official partner UN Water Member of world water council > influence the world water forum Member of the Butterfly Effect > cooperation Working with major group women and caucus for the CSW and HLPF SD Working with ministries for water (resources) Diplomacy = alliances 5

6 What’s the difference? Women see and focus on the impact on livelihoods first Men are interested in and tend to see the technology first Women tend to see the “merit” ; Men tend to see the “market“ Women tend to integrate/ look for “horizontal” coordination/ cohesion; Men tend to focus on the “silo” 6

7 What’s the difference? Women tend to build relations first <> make local connections <> People tend to give women more information Access to areas that are restricted to men Finding solutions to the root cause of many insecurity and inequality issues makes women effective diplomats 7

8 What’s the difference? Female ambassadors tend to focus on underlying factors of larger problems, bringing issues such as poverty, family structures, health care and the lack of safe drinking water into discussions Diplomacy is reactive in nature, women are willing to consider options more carefully for a longer period of time than men until the right route for action is found Examples: Hilary Clinton, Maria Mutagambe, lady Ashton.. 8

Levels of engagement consultation ≠ Participation multi stakeholder engagement + collective decision-making on equal footing space for engagement: from planning > implementation sphere of influence <> diplomacy “pace” and timing (very different for different stakeholder groups) respect the role(s) ! be clear on expectations, roles/ tasks from the start 9

10 Water: a merit good GoodsGoods and services that are judged to be worth more than their value according to the market. Merit goods such as water & sanitation services may be under-supplied in proportion to their perceived value (if left to private enterprise), and are therefore often provided by governments or nonprofit organizationsservicesworthvalueaccording tomarketleftprivate enterpriseorganizations In economics, a good to which persons are believed to have a right. That is, a merit good is something that should be available for free or at reduced prices because it is necessary and the free market does not provide sufficient incentives (yet) to produce it economicsfreepricesfree marketeconomicsfreepricesfree market 10

11 In general Water needs a common voice Water needs sustainable, social, behavioral, economic solutions Water needs joint action Water needs local and global solutions

12 Sustainable Development needs Goals 5 and 6 Principles of water governance: Equitable and reasonable use, no harm And Universal access to basic services (water & sanitation) <> Empowerment & economic independency of women 12

13 Attention needed for: Behavioral changes Behavioral changes Waste water management: 5 R’s: redesign, reduce, reuse, re-cycle, re-allocate Waste water management: 5 R’s: redesign, reduce, reuse, re-cycle, re-allocate Water storage & MUS (multiple usage) Water storage & MUS (multiple usage) Capacity development: awareness about use and pollution Capacity development: awareness about use and pollution (lack of) access to safe sanitation River basin management: IWRM and transboundary River basin management: IWRM and transboundary Restoration of infra-structure Restoration of infra-structure Water stewardship Water stewardship

14 What can and should women support? universal access to safe water supply and gender- responsive sanitation and hygiene access to proper hygiene (education) front- line service delivery by women involvement of women in water management and water governance at all levels. 14

I wish.. 15

16 Recommendation/ conclusion Support the agreement on SDG 5 and 6 with current targets Support the agreement on SDG 5 and 6 with current targets Acknowledge women as leaders, experts and agents of change in water – SD nexus Acknowledge women as leaders, experts and agents of change in water – SD nexus Include women at all levels in the decision-making process by setting quota of at least 40% women in water governing bodies Include women at all levels in the decision-making process by setting quota of at least 40% women in water governing bodies Support establishment of a dedicated water and women’s fund Support establishment of a dedicated water and women’s fund 16

17 Recommendation/ conclusion and budget for capacity development, vocational training, empowerment and design appropriate governance structures and budget for capacity development, vocational training, empowerment and design appropriate governance structures Make sure there are gender-disaggreated qualitative and quantitative data Make sure there are gender-disaggreated qualitative and quantitative data 17