Mentorship and Career Development Program for Women in Water Resource Management in Central Asia and Afghanistan - Women in Water Resource Management Network in CA and Afghanistan

The program "Women in Water Resource Management in Central Asia and Afghanistan" was initiated in 2021 by SIWI, OSCE, and RECCA. This program is part of the OSCE project "Women, Water Resource Management, and Conflict Prevention - Phase II".

The "Women, Water Resource Management, and Conflict Prevention - Phase II" project aims to integrate gender aspects into water resource management and water diplomacy, as well as to deliberately expand the rights and opportunities for women specialists in the field of water resources. The significant role of women in water resource management was emphasized on June 10, 2021, during an online parallel event at the 29th Economic and Environmental Forum of the OSCE. This is because effective cooperation requires inclusive decision-making. Gender-sensitive collaboration in the joint use of water resources in Central Asia and Afghanistan is essential for ensuring water security and regional development. Involving a broad range of stakeholders leads to more informed decisions, taking into account a wider spectrum of environmental and social consequences.

In Almaty, Kazakhstan, the OSCE, SIWI, and RECCA, with the support of the "Women, Water Resource Management, and Conflict Prevention" project, jointly organized courses on water diplomacy with a particular focus on negotiation and mediation skills (2019), as well as on a gender approach and conflict resolution in water resource management for participants in the 10th anniversary Central Asian Leadership Program (CALP) on environment for sustainable development (2015).

With the necessary knowledge and skills, women leaders in the water sector are more likely to be sustainable and equitable.

Goal: The project aims to enhance the capacity of women professionals in water diplomacy, negotiation, mediation, peacebuilding processes, and conflict prevention. It also seeks to raise awareness among stakeholders about the consequences of climate change for transboundary water management, including gender-related aspects.

Objectives: 

• Monthly training sessions and seminars are held to jointly enhance the potential, exchange experiences, knowledge, and skills of women professionals in the field of water resource management. 

• The program supports the career development of female water resource experts and promotes collaboration in the water resource sector.

• The establishment of the "Women in Water Resource Management Network in Central Asia and Afghanistan," which is part of the Global Network "Women in Water Diplomacy." This global network includes representatives from other river basins around the world, including Africa and North America.

• Enhancing synergy with the "Women in Water Diplomacy Network of the Nile River Basin."

• Representation of the network at the Second International High-Level Conference during the International Decade for Action "Water for Sustainable Development," co-organizing the Women's Water Forum and making a direct contribution to the Dushanbe Declaration "From Dushanbe 2022 to New York 2023," where the voices of women were presented.

• Participation in the Global Network "Women in Water Diplomacy Forum" during the World Water Week in Stockholm in 2022.

• Launch of the strategy for the Global Network "Path Forward: Women, Water, Peace, and Security."