Article
Better data for better adaptation strategies
Experts from the UNESCO World Water Assessment Programme (WWAP) delivered a hands-on training, benefitting 21 mid- and senior personnel from water government authorities and other water institutions of 8 South American countries (Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Uruguay). Focus was notably on enhancing capacity among participants on the collection and analysis of sex-disaggregated water data, supported by the use of WWAP’s gender-responsive indicators and dedicated Toolkit for more informed decision-making and transformative water policy.
The countries of South America are highly diverse in terms of natural environment, socio-cultural, economic and political characteristics. Their significant levels of social inequalities -particularly in rural and indigenous communities- are in turn reflected in water security, safe sanitation issues, and access to decision making further aggravated by the impacts of climate variability and extremes.
Women and men are differently affected by those water challenges demonstrating the importance of gender-transformative national and regional strategies for improving the equitable access to water resources and services, and establishing an equal share of leadership and decision making in water governance mechanisms. However, a critical lack of trustworthy water data disaggregated by sex and by other dimensions of difference, makes it harder to effectively address these challenges.
“We cannot develop water policies or projects based on assumptions. We need evidence from the ground and sex-disaggregated water data is crucial for ensuring their gender-responsive nature ” said Ms. Imburgia, Senior Programme Specialist at UNESCO WWAP.
Participants will apply the acquired knowledge through the development of national group case studies, in which they will collect and analyse sex-disaggregated data with the help of the 2019 UNESCO WWAP Toolkit. The resulting case studies are expected to formulate recommendations to address several key water- and gender-related challenges.
One of the participants at the end of the workshop stated: “This training has helped me realize the importance of incorporating a gender perspective into our planning, as well as the need of sharing relevant data with my colleagues. We need to understand better the water problems that women and men have and which may not be the same”
