On the occasion of International Women’s Day (8 March), Global Water Partnership Central and Eastern Europe has interviewed women in the water community across the Network on their journey to become successful in their professions, how to overcome obstacles they face as women, and also recommendations to other women.
Five old, hand crafted rainwater storage cisterns located in the villages of Pyrgos, Mesa Gonia and Exo Gonia, were in the focus of a research project recently concluded in Santorini. The project aimed at advancing rainwater harvesting in the island of Santorini, undertaken by the University of Cornell and Global Water Partnership – Mediterranean, with the support of the Municipality and the Water Supply and Sewage Authority of Thera (Santorini).
The CEPF funded Act4Drin project and the GEF/UNDP/GWP-Med project 'Enabling transboundary cooperation and integrated water resources management in the extended Drin River Basin' (GEF Drin Project) are joining forces to raise public awareness about the natural wealth and legacy of the Drin River Basin on the occasion of Drin Day 2016.
The Regional Training on International Water Law for improved trans-boundary water management in Africa started on 6 June 2016 at Africana Hotel in Kampala, Uganda and was officially opened by Mrs. Florence Adongo, Director of Water Resources Management at the Ugandan Ministry of Water and Environment
Cooperation between GWP Slovakia and the Eastern Africa region has been in existence for quite some time. A Memorandum of Understanding was signed in Khartoum in March to outline the next steps of collaboration.
Name: Maria Amakali
Occupation: Director of Water Resources Management
Country: Namibia
Country of Work: Namibia and SADC
What would you say are the main challenges in your work as a woman?
I started working as hydrologist in the Department of Water Affairs in the early nineties. I had studied in the US and was ready to come and work in a newly independent Namibia. My responsibilities included planning and execution of research and investigations regarding sustainable development of water resources; and providing advice on the effective utilization, protection and conservation of such resources. At a time I found a lot of males, in the department. Except for the two women scientist in Hydrology Division, most women were doing mostly secretarial or office administrative work. I remember one day standing outside, waiting for my ride home and this man came to me asking whose secretary I was. In an independent Namibia, I was quite shocked that the old stereotype mentality that women can only be secretaries still exists. Those days there were not many women or black hydrologists, but I was still offended.
The Global Water Partnership - Mediterranean (GWP-Med) is seeking to hire a Project Manager for the GEF funded project titled: “Enabling transboundary cooperation and integrated water resources management in the extended Drin River Basin”.
The Global Water Partnership - Mediterranean (GWP-Med) is seeking to hire a National Coordinator in Kosovo for the GEF supported medium-size Project “Enabling transboundary cooperation and integrated water resources management in the White Drin and the extended Drin Basin”.
The Global Water Partnership - Mediterranean (GWP-Med) is seeking to hire a National Coordinator in Montenegro for the GEF funded project titled: “Enabling transboundary cooperation and integrated water resources management in the extended Drin River Basin”.