Women in Water Diplomacy Network

Stockholm #WorldWaterWeek 2024 was my fourth and my busiest, thanks to this year’s focus on the two priorities of Slovenia’s Water Diplomacy - water for peace and transboundary water cooperation: - 7 panel discussions and one moderation on institutions, water diplomacy, transboundary cooperation, water in armed conflict, and gender equality thanks to wonderful partners Geneva Water Hub, a Centre of Competence on Water for Peace The World Bank Susanne Schmeier Melissa McCracken Water Convention/Protocol on Water & Health #FinnishWaterWay UNESCO WWAP and many others; - meetings with fellow water envoys Antti Rautavaara Meike van Ginneken and other colleagues; - two brainstorming sessions on the future of water diplomacy (we have our work cut out); - coordination on the modalities resolution for the UN 2026 Water Conference - meeting of the #Transboundary Water Cooperation Coalition - meeting of the Women in Water Diplomacy Network (my favourite) - co-hosting a session on Earth observation technologies for transboundary water cooperation (great insights, including from our Tomaž Rodič, Space.si) - and lots of networking. I enjoyed every second, learned a lot and was inspiried by many. Thank you, SIWI - Stockholm International Water Institute for the best World Water Week!

🌍💧 Empowering Women in Water at World Water Week We are proud of our RWSN - Rural Water Supply Network women to have co-organized the "Women in Water Mingle" during World Water Week in #Stockholm, a vibrant off-site gathering that brought together well over 100 amazing women from across the globe, all working in the water sector. This event provided a unique networking opportunity where women from multiple organizations could connect, share, and inspire one another. The atmosphere was absolutely electric, with cross-generational exchanges that highlighted the strength and diversity of women in our field. We stand convinced that carving out opportunities like this to link up women is paramount to fostering a more inclusive and collaborative future in the water sector. A heartfelt thank you to all the incredible women who participated—your presence and passion made this event truly special. Let's continue to support and uplift each other as we navigate the challenges and opportunities in water management together. Here’s to the future of women in water! 💪🌊 #WomenInWater #Networking #WaterSector #EmpowerWomen #FemaleLeadership #Conference | Aline Saraiva Okello, PhD | Batima Tleulinova | Susanna Germanier | Meleesa Naughton | Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH | AquaFed | Agenda for Change | Sustainable Sanitation Alliance (SuSanA) | Women in Water Diplomacy Network | WWSN - Women in Water & Sanitation Network | Women for Water Partnership | African Water and Sanitation Association _ Association Africaine de l'Eau et de l'Assainissement | Community of Women in Water | African Women Sanitation Professionals Network | South Asia Young Women in Water |

At the Women in Water Diplomacy Network meeting hearing more about how this amazing initiative and it’s to-be-determined-future must continue! #UNDP is proud to have been doing hard technical and diplomatic work in some of the worlds most challenging basins, with women’s networks and making a difference!! Learn more about how empowered women around the world are taking leadership roles in high level decision making through: 💧Gender & youth empowerment 💧Peer-to-peer learning 💧Research cooperation 💧Linkages to basins 💧 Cross cutting: process support

Last week I represented The United Nations University Institute for Water, Environment and Health (UNU-INWEH) at the Regional Summit on Accelerating Progress Towards Achieving the SDGs through Broadening the Water-Energy-Food (WEF+) Nexus organized by WRC South Africa. The first day Prof. Tafadzwanashe Mabhaudhi and I, presented the newly established African Academy for Water, and Environment and Health (AA-WEH) at the Summit. This initiative will support a Transdisciplinary Community of Practice and will promote joint research, capacity building, and gender-balanced, context-specific solutions that can be shared on a global scale. If you and your institution are interested in being part of it please complete this form: https://lnkd.in/d_TUQipC The second day and the best day, I had the honor to lead the session on "intersectionality of water, environment and health" and have my dear colleagues and members of the Women in Water Diplomacy Network join me for this important discussion. Thank you Zodwa Dlamini and Xanani Baloyi for showing up and for your great insights!

🙏 Thank you to the 40+ Network members and supporters who joined this morning's Women in Water Diplomacy Network Meet-Up in Stockholm! Halfway through World Water Week but still many opportunities to attend sessions featuring Network Members and champions! Special thanks to Kerry Schneider and Julienne NDJIKI (NGO YEBGA) from SIWI - Stockholm International Water Institute, Jessica Troell from Environmental Law Institute and Saule Ospanova and team from OSCE for hosting! Interesting in organizing a Network Meet-up? Please reach out to Elizabeth A. Koch or Sogol Jafarzadeh for more information!

Celebrating Connections and Collaboration at the Pretoria Women in Water Diplomacy Network Meet-Up! We had an inspiring and impactful gathering on August 19th in Pretoria, South Africa, where members of the Women in Water Diplomacy Network came together to exchange ideas, network, and strengthen our collective efforts in the water sector. The event, held alongside the Regional Summit on Accelerating Progress Towards Achieving the SDGs, offered a unique platform for us to connect with professionals from various sectors, broadening our reach and influence. A special thanks to our members Dr Zodwa Dlamini, WWDN Council Member, Sogol Jafarzadeh of The United Nations University Institute for Water, Environment and Health (UNU-INWEH) and WWDN Support Staff, Julienne NDJIKI (NGO YEBGA), SIWI - Stockholm International Water Institute and WWDN Support Staff and Xanani Baloyi, Transboundary Water Cooperation expert and WWDN Support Staff for making this event happen. We are grateful to SIWI - Stockholm International Water Institute for sponsoring this event. As we move forward, let’s continue to build on the momentum from this meet-up, leveraging our networks and shared knowledge to drive progress in water diplomacy and beyond. Together, we are stronger and more equipped to face the challenges ahead. Thank you to everyone who joined us and contributed to making this event a success! Many thanks to Nsuku Chanakira and our male champions Anton Earle, Tafadzwanashe Mabhaudhi, Thato Konstabole, Mokhothu Moerane. The next WWDN Meet-Up will take place on August 27 in Stockholm in the margin of #WorldWaterWeek make sure you register if you are around. #WomenInWater #WaterDiplomacy #WEFNexus #SDGs #Networking

Sign up to attend our official World Water Week session, "Revitalizing Indigenous Matriarch Roles in Water Leadership" on August 27, 2024 at 16:00 (CEST) / 08:00 AM (MT). Session Description: Indigenous communities around the world have been caretakers of the natural world since time immemorial. This relationship has shaped their worldview, spirituality, and cultural practices which are still practiced today. The impacts of climate change and its contributions to water insecurity are changing the balance of the natural world which is disproportionately affecting Indigenous communities. Within these communities, Indigenous women have served as the foundation for traditional leadership which has been eroded with colonization and governance structures. However, women continue exercising their leadership and power in their communities to restore balance and re-Indigenize conservation. The Indigenous Women’s Leadership Network (IWLN), launched by the Water & Tribes Initiative in 2022 is a leadership program that supports a group of multigenerational Indigenous women in the United States in the areas of water and natural resources environment who work on issues in the Colorado River Basin. This panel will highlight case studies of Indigenous women leaders, water policy challenges and feature women’s networks from North America, Asia, Oceania, South America, and/or Africa. The panel will discuss the role of Indigenous women’s leadership, traditional values of water in Indigenous communities, and share ideas on how women might advocate and work together to solve challenges. Moderator: Emma Robbins Panelists: Lorelei Cloud, Patricia Joe, Yolanda López-Maldonado, Verng Many, Diana Chavez Vargas. A lovely reminder that virtual tickets are FREE!! Session ID: 11463 https://lnkd.in/gQ9Y7bN Women in Water Diplomacy Network #indigenous #matriarchs #waterprotectors #leaders #indigeneity #conservation

📢 📢 Friendly Reminder! If you will be in Stockholm next week don't forget to register and join the Women in Water Diplomacy Network Stockholm Meet-Up on Tuesday morning, August 27 at 9:00! Registration is required here: https://lnkd.in/dCiwNVrX. SIWI - Stockholm International Water Institute, World Water Week, Environmental Law Institute, OSCE, The Regional Environmental Centre for Central Asia, Kerry Schneider, Jessica Troell, Julienne NDJIKI (NGO YEBGA), Saule Ospanova, Tais Reznikova.

Interested in connecting with others in Pretoria working at the intersection of water, gender equality, peace, and security? Come join the Women in Water Diplomacy Network Meet-Up on August 19 at 4:30 pm. Complete the registration form to receive the exact location in the Lynwood area. https://lnkd.in/dMTmWucQ

Many thanks to the Women in Water Diplomacy Network community members who joined the “Engendering the Water, Energy, Food, and Ecosystems (WEFE) nexus approach to Sustainable Development” Experience Exchange event on July 31st! The After-Action Report and video recording are now available here. https://lnkd.in/gFAiXDW3 SIWI - Stockholm International Water Institute, CIAT, CGIAR, Environmental Law Institute