Blog of Rina Dupriet, SI UN Representative at UNESCO.

Paradoxically, Africa is the richest continent in terms of water and yet families consistently lack water – often this is reported as being due to a lack of well, or poor maintenance of current water supply systems.

The absence of local expertise, for the creation and maintenance of wells, irrigation and use of sanitation equipment has further compounded the issue, leaving vital water infrastructure neglected.

This critical issue not only affects daily life, but also exacerbates gender disparities, with women and girls disproportionately burdened by the responsibility of fetching water; women, assisted by their daughters go every day in search of water for their personal and family consumption. The knock-on effect of this is that young girls will very quickly miss out on education, being confined to household chores instead.

In addition, promises of funding are often left unfulfilled, where political bodies remain more concerned with the growing conflicts which agitate our planet.

Addressing the Challenge: UNESCO and Hydrology Training

The scarcity of local knowledge and infrastructure for the creation and maintenance of wells, irrigation and sanitation has spurred a collective response. In collaboration with eight partner NGOs, UNESCO has embarked on an ambitious mission, actively contributing to the Sustainable Development 2030 objectives for Africa, Water and Women, focusing on training hydraulic technicians on local projects and supported by local field associations.

Proposed Method

The approach involves selecting projects in villages with local NGOs, where projects managers can then be selected and trained – crucially, this initiative relies on the support of the UNESCO national commissions of each country. Currently, the training is planned to take place over two years at the  2IE Centre in Ouagadougou.

 

The Results: Empowering Women in Hydrology

The impact and results of this initiative are edifying, as shown by how much women have invested in these training courses.

• For the 2016-2017 class: 7 women out of 14 technicians across three countries (Congo, Côte d’Ivoire, Madagascar).

 

• For the 2018-2019 class: 15 women out of 30 technicians spanning six countries (Chad, Niger, Cameroon, Togo, Senegal, Burkina).

 

• For the 2020-2022 class: 25 technicians, including 13 women, representing five countries (Guinea, Benin, Mali, Madagascar, Mauritania).

 

The feedback received thus far shows that there has been fruitful collaboration between the 39 local NGOs involved in the programme, the National Commissions of the 14 selected countries, the mobilisation of the UNESCO sectors and the 8 NGOs with proposals.

Looking ahead: Challenges and New Initiatives

While the results are promising, challenges persist – projects for 2023 to 2024 are already underway, however funding is slow to mobilise!

The need for hydrologists in Africa is acute and women are the most affected by this situation. To address this, essential information sessions have been organised in villages, particularly in Mauretania, where over 100 trained women have shared knowledge on new methods with their neighbourhoods, discussing new methods and lifestyle habits to integrate regarding cooking, vegetable cultivation, health and hygiene.

Conclusion: Women Leading the Way

In the face of formidable challenges, UNESCO’s hydrology training initiative not only addresses the water crisis but also fosters gender equality and community resilience. As we look toward the future, supporting such initiatives becomes imperative to create a sustainable and equitable world for all; women, in particular have a major role to play in this difficult economic and social context.