Building equality into climate resilience – making the critical case for GEDSI in WASH & WRM
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Building equality into climate resilience – DFAT, WaterAid and Water for Women make the critical case for gender, disability and social inclusion in WASH & WRM
Water is fundamental to life. Achieving Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6 – clean water and sanitation for all – is a vital foundation for achieving all other SDGs. A critical, but devastating, lesson from the global COVID-19 pandemic has been the fragility of many water-supply, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) services and systems. Climate change will continue to have even greater impacts on WASH systems, setting back the essential path to sustainable development and poverty alleviation outlined in the SDGs, and further exacerbating inequalities.
Water security is a fundamental part of building the resilience of WASH systems to climate change. However, if we are to create water and WASH systems that are effective, sustainable and resilient, gender equality and social inclusion must be at the core of what we do.
Women and girls, and other marginalised groups, are experiencing greater inequality and are at the forefront of the climate crises. It is essential that our work to improve the climate resilience of water and WASH systems and services responds directly to the needs and interests of women, girls and marginalised groups.
As part of the Water, WASH and Climate Virtual Symposium taking place next week from 20 – 23 June, Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), WaterAid and Water for Women will explore the critical role of gender equality and social inclusion in building resilience to climate change in WASH and WRM.
Tuesday 21st June
Building equality into climate resilience – the critical case for gender and social inclusion in WASH & WRM
2:30pm AEST
The session, Building equality into climate resilience – the critical case for gender and social inclusion in WASH & WRM will answer some important questions:
- Why is a focus on gender equality and social inclusion critical as we seek to adapt WASH and WRM systems to the impacts of climate change and to build more resilient communities?
- What are key lessons and insights of women and girls, and other marginalised groups, at the forefront of the climate crisis?
- What strategies have proven successful in both building climate resilient WRM and WASH systems and advancing gender equality and social inclusion? What are the main barriers? What are the main opportunities?
Bringing together an incredible line up of organisations and speakers, this session will draw from Australia Water Partners for Development projects and research findings. The session will also present preliminary findings from Water for Women’s upcoming guidance on both 1) changing norms in, and through, WASH and 2)partnering between WASH actors and rights holder groups.
When: Tuesday June 21st at 2:30pm AEST
Where: Online via Zoom,
In-person in Papua New Guinea and Vanuatu (see below)
(this event is free, but registrations are required)
Facilitated by WaterAid Australia’s Chief Executive, Rosie Wheen, participants will hear from Australia’s Ambassador for Women and Girls, Christine Clarke, as well as a keynote address from Noelene Nabulivou, Political Adviser for Diva for Equality.
Keynote Address:
Noelene Nabulivou
Executive Director
DIVA for Equality
Noelene is a feminist community organiser, analyst, educator and activist working for socio-economic, ecological and climate justice and universal human rights in urban informal settlements, rural and maritime Fiji, the Pacific and globally for over 35 years.
Guided by autonomous feminist movements Noelene works with communities, governments, development sector and the United Nations to advance bold heterodox strategies on urgent, complex questions of human rights and development justice. She is the Executive Director of Diverse Voices and Action (DIVA) for Equality and holds many movement roles. In 2020 Noelene was the recipient of the International Women’s Health Coalition's Joan B. Dunlop award for advocacy.
Presentations will share guidance and examples of building gender equality and social inclusion into climate resilience from the Australian Water Partnership, WaterAid in Papua New Guinea, SNV in Nepal, Water for Women and the University of Sydney’s Institute for Sustainable Futures.
Session attendees will also hear from and have the opportunity to interact with the session’s discussion panel including practitioners in Asia and the Pacific who are embedding gender equality and social inclusion in their work.
Meet the Panel:
Angelica Salele
Coordinator
Pacific Menstrual Health Network
Angelica Salele is a co-founder of Mana Care Samoa, a CSO working in Samoa to advocate and raise awareness for menstrual health in rural communities, having partnered with the Government of Samoa's Ministry of Women to carry out educational programs in over 12 rural and remote districts across two of Samoa's largest islands. Angelica has a background in environment, having worked for the Pacific region's leading environment organisation for over seven years, endeavoring to include environmental and climate crisis considerations impacting the Pacific region, alongside gender mainstreaming and inclusive rights for marginalised and vulnerable communities. Currently she is the Pacific Coordinator for the Pacific Menstrual Health Network, a group of Pacific-based rights activists, menstrual health CSO's and social enterprises spread across five Pacific islands: Fiji, PNG, Samoa, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu.
Ugyen Wangchuk
National GESI Advisor
SNV Bhutan
Ugyen Wangchuk holds a Masters degree in Disability Management and Special Education from Ramakrishna Mission Vivekananda University, India, Bachelors degree in Disability Management and Special Education from Andhra University, India and a Bachelors degree in Education from the National Institute of Education, Bhutan. Prior to joining SNV, Ugyen Served as Executive Director, Ability Bhutan Society and served as a teacher in government schools for more than a decade. He is very passionate about gender and disability issues in Bhutan.
Katharine Cross
Strategy & Partnerships Lead
Australian Water Partnership
Katharine has extensive experience in the water sector from global to local scale with a background in water resources and environmental management. Her technical competence in the water sector covers a range of areas including: climate resilience and adaptation, nature-based solutions, water-energy-food nexus, water governance, including connecting cities and urban stakeholders with their watersheds. She is also interested in convening and facilitating stakeholders across and beyond the water sector to develop solutions for better water management. Prior to AWP, Katharine worked across Asia, the America, Africa and Europe for the International Water Association leading on strategic programs and for the International Union for Conservation of Nature in East and Southern Africa as well as headquarters in Switzerland.
Navara Kiene
Programs Director
WaterAid Papua New Guinea
Ms. Navara Kiene is the Programs Director for WaterAid Papua New Guinea (WAPNG). She has nearly 15 years’ experience in the development field working for various INGOs, management contractors and donor-funded programs across different development sectors in Papua New Guinea and holds a Master’s Degree in Development Practice from the University of Queensland and a Bachelor of Arts (Psychology) from the University of Papua New Guinea. Navara’s role oversees programs, technical input and strategy across the WAPNG program including the Inclusive WaSH for Wewak District project, supported by Water for Women. Through this project, WAPNG has been building their partnership with and support to our local rights groups East Sepik Council of Women (ESCoW) and East Sepik Disabled Persons Agency (ESDPA) to lead GEDSI integration as well as climate resilience in WaSH service delivery to communities.
Wednesday 22nd June
This is Water, WASH & Climate: Stories from Practice
2:30pm AEST
Many Water for Women partners will also be part of this innovative storytelling session on Wednesday 22nd June, This is Water, WASH & Climate: Stories from Practice where you will hear from some of over 30 stories from practitioners active in water management or WASH from any sector, working in a resource constrained environments (such as developing countries, or remote or challenging areas) and how climate change is impacting their work.
These are just two of the many incredible sessions on offer exploring the Water, WASH and Climate nexus next week, you can explore the full program.
We look forward to sharing insights and learning from other session convenors throughout the week. This week is your last chance to register, this event is free, however, registration is required.
Attend online or in-person at our Pacific Symposium Hubs!
Water for Women is proud to be supporting two Pacific Symposium Hubs as part of this event. The Hubs will live-stream sessions from the Water, WASH and Climate Virtual Symposium and provide opportunities for in-person networking.
Papua New Guinea @Hilton Hotel in Port Moresby
Click here to access the event flyer, register now for this event
Water for Women is pleased to be a major partner of this important event, together with the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, the International WaterCentre of Griffith University and the Asian Development Bank.
Learn more about the Water, WASH and Climate Virtual Symposium and the WASH Futures Knowledge Forum series here.
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