Women Leaders for WASH

The initiative ‘Women Leaders for WASH’ has been set up to promote women at the center of water supply, sanitation and hygiene activities. This is not only because women are the most affected by lack of adequate water and sanitation services, but also because of the vital role they play at the domestic level, where they are frequently best placed to manage and raise awareness of WASH interventions.

‘Women Leaders for WASH’ was announced at the first Global WASH Forum in Dakar, Senegal in 2004. The initiative was initially carried forward by the three co-conveners: the Hon. Ms. Maria Mutagamba, the Minister of State for Water of Uganda; Ms. Hilde Johnson, the former Minister for International Development of Norway; and Ms. Ann Veneman, Executive Director of UNICEF. Following its inception, a fourth leader has been selected: Ms. Lindiwe Hendricks, the Minister for Water Affairs and Forestry of South-Africa.

These Women Leaders for WASH are committed to highlighting and promoting worldwide gender equality in the decision-making and management of water supply and sanitation systems.