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

Speech at Closing Ceremony Stockholm World Water Week 2025



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Dear excellencies, colleagues, friends — fellow changemakers,

It is an honor to be here, with all of you, at this closing moment.

My name is Sara Dia, and I speak on behalf of the Stronger Together! Coalition of Women’s Water Networks.

Water sustains life. It connects us all.

But water also mirrors our inequalities.

When water is scarce, when sanitation fails, when floods destroy — women and girls feel the impact first and
strongest.

And yet — women are not only bearing the burden. We are leading solutions.
We are scientists. We are engineers. We are negotiators. We are community leaders.
We are shaping the future of water.

But here is the reality: 80% of jobs in water and WASH are still held by men. Women face barriers at every career
step — and with every woman lost from the sector, we lose innovation, leadership, and progress.

And this is not only about young or early career professionals. Women drop out of our sector at every career
milestone.

WHO and UN-Water estimate that up to 60% of countries lack sufficient water and WASH experts. We cannot
reach SDG 6. We cannot secure water for all. Not without women.

So, how do we change this?

First, we must recognize: inclusion is not a checkbox. It is a commitment.
And commitments require investment.

The Gold Standard here at World Water Week has already transformed careers. Imagine if we scaled that
ambition — across countries, across regions, across generations.

The Stronger Together! Coalition brings together eight networks, reaching more than 15,000 women worldwide.

And together, our message is clear: only with a diverse workforce can we achieve a water-secure future.

So today, we ask you to join us in four commitments:
1. From barriers to bridges — invest in women’s participation, remove obstacles, open doors.
2. From attendance to co-leadership — enable women to co-create solutions, not just observe.
3. From tokenism to transformation — representation matters, but influence matters more. Track and
resource inclusion.
4. From exclusion to leaving no one behind — open stages to women from every region, every
profession.

Because inclusion is not charity.
It is strategy.

It is how we unlock the solutions we need — for water, for climate, for our shared future.
So as we head into the next water conferences, let us not just invite women.
Let us ensure they are shaping the agenda — equally, from beginning to end.

Because water connects us all.

And when we work together, we are always — Stronger Together!

More info on the Stronger Together! Coalition: 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.


📅 20 November 2025
🕑 14:00 CET  
💻 Format: Online
🙂 WWSN members + friends (women only)

✏️ Register here
 

Inspired by the 2025 Global Water Operators’ Partnerships Congress held in Bonn this October, 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’re thrilled to have two inspiring women opening the session:
• Kathryn Pharr – CWIW / Stronger Together! Coalition
• Sareen Malik – Sanitation and Water for All (SWA)

They’ll share insights on networking, personal resilience, and navigating professional spaces with purpose.

Afterward, we’ll move into small group conversations (2–3 people) for open and personal exchanges:

  • 🌱 Share your top insights from the Congress
  • 💡 Reflect on how WOPs connect to your own work
  • 💬 Explore moments of personal growth and inspiration

Who Can Join

This Meet-up is open to all WWSN members and friends – women only.
You don’t need to have attended the Congress — if you did (in person or online), bring your reflections; if not, come to listen, learn, and connect.

 
READ MORE...
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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