Women should lead water resource management initiatives

An essential and precious resource, there has never been more need to conserve water and protect resources, amidst growing threats of climate change, particularly for landlocked, semi-arid countries such as Botswana. Growing evidence also indicates that there is a need to put women at the forefront of water conservation and management efforts, as custodians of communities and climate resiliency efforts.

Water is a necessary resource for domestic use from cooking, cleaning and washing, hygiene and sanitation, as well as, growing food (agriculture) and women are often in this engagement. Hence it is important to engage and involve them on issues related to water conservation, management and policy projects, which would empower them and ensure they gain insight on best practices related to water conservation and cross-border water management systems. This involves how to access, utilise, distribute and recycle water equitably.