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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

WWSN Online Workshop: Careers – Mastering Job Interviews

Have you ever been invited to an interview and wondered how to truly stand out?

Do you find it challenging to present your experience with confidence and clarity when it matters most?

You are not alone. Even highly experienced professionals can find interviews daunting. That’s why we invite you to join our next WWSN Workshop—a supportive and informal space to build confidence, strengthen your interview skills, and connect with women across our global network.

📅 9 April 2026
🕑 14:30 – 16:00 CEST
💻 Format: Online (Zoom)
🙂 Participants: WWSN members (women only)

 

What to expect

This interactive workshop will focus on practical strategies to help you prepare for and succeed in job interviews.

We are especially pleased to welcome our guest expert, Eliana Harrigan, who will guide us through key interview techniques and the art of storytelling for impactful and authentic self-presentation.

Together, we will explore how to structure your responses, communicate your skills and experience with confidence, and align your story with the role you are applying for.

Through short inputs, breakout discussions, and practical exercises, participants will reflect on their professional journeys, practice answering common interview questions, and exchange ideas and peer feedback in small groups.

We will also share tips on how to handle challenging questions, make a strong first impression, and convey your unique value with clarity and purpose.

By the end of the session, you will have practical tools, new perspectives, and greater confidence to approach interviews with clarity and authenticity.

While we cannot promise job offers, we hope to provide useful strategies, fresh insights, and a supportive space—and perhaps help you find a “partner in crime” to practice and prepare together!

Who Can Join

This workshop is open to all WWSN members – women only.

How to Join

This will be a virtual workshop. A Zoom meeting link will be sent to you shortly after registration.

READ MORE...
We the Women of WWSN

We the Women of WWSN

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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!

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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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