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She Empowers!
Collaboratively creating an inclusive water and sanitation sector.

Resources

Women in water sector workforce

World Bank Report (2019): "Women in Water Utilities. Breaking Barriers"

Women are an untapped pool of talent for the water sector. Data collected for this study from 64 water and sanitation service providers in 28 economies around the world show that the percentage of female workers is considerably lower than that of men: on average, utilities in the sample reported that only 18 percent of their workers are women—that’s fewer than one in five. Wide heterogeneity was found among the utilities surveyed. For example, although, on average, 23 percent of engineers and managers in a utility are female, 32 percent of the sampled utilities had no female engineers and 12 percent had no female managers. Read report here
 

LATEST EVENT

Join us on for our next WWSN Meet-up —a fun and informal opportunity to connect with others in our global family.


📅 18 February 2026
🕑 15:00-16:30 CET  
💻 Format: Online
🙂 WWSN members, Stronger Together! Coalition members + friends (women only)

✏️ Registration opens on Friday 13 Feb.
 

Inspired by the UN High-level Preparatory Meeting in Dakar, Senegal (January 2026), as part of teh Preparatory process of the 2026 UN Water Conference, we’re hosting this special virtual Meet-up. It’s a moment to reconnect with fellow participants, exchange key takeaways, and keep the energy of the Congress and the Stronger Together! Coalition alive.

What to Expect

We are delighted to welcome two inspiring speakers:

• Elizabeth A. Koch – Bridging Waters Advisory / Women in Water Diplomacy Network
• Dr. Aline Saraiva Okello – Rural Water Supply Network

They will share key reflections from Dakar and what it means for women in water as we move toward 2026, followed by small breakout conversations to connect, exchange, and look ahead together.

Who Can Join

This Meet-up is open to all WWSN members and to members of the Stronger Together! Coalition organisations, and friends – women only.

You don’t need to have attended the Dakar event to join — if you did (in person or online), bring your reflections; if not, come to listen, learn, and connect.  Looking forward to seeing you online soon!

 

 
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We the Women of WWSN

We the Women of WWSN

JOIN US

Would you like to shape the agenda for women's empowerment in the water and sanitation sector—nationally, regionally, and globally? Do you want to help steer the future of our network?

Are you eager to connect with women worldwide and make a meaningful impact on SDGs 5, 6, 8, 17, and beyond?

Join the Women in Water & Sanitation Network (WWSN) as a member—and, if you’re interested, take an active role in one of our working groups!

Join us

 
Join Us!
Speaking up for women working in the WASH sector with our WWSN working groups

What do we wo and why? Read more ...
  • Events: Develop and design events for our membership engagement. Guide WWSN´ s strategy on outreach events, WWSN at international conferences, fora and events.
  • Communications & Advocacy: Storytelling, messaging, corporate and external communications, develop a startegic communications plan and advocacy strategy, digital communication (social media, website...).
  • Membership: Design and implement the strategy of enrolling and engaging members.
  • Mentorship: Setting up our mentor-mentee-ship programme.
  • Fundraising: Raising the funds we need to do this great work. 
  • WWSN strategic group: inspire the WWSN strategy which includes development of new activities, outreach, and new working groups and strategic position of the network.

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