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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.

 

Since December 2015, Global Water Partnership in Central and Eastern Europe develops a project proposal that aims to shift existing water paradigm by an innovative wastewater management in the rural areas.

Innovative wastewater management in rural areas in Central and Eastern Europe

“Water, gender and development are closely interconnected, and GWP realizes this fully. We think that water empowers women, and empowered women transform their societies.” These are the words of GWP Interim Chair Alice Bouman-Dentener on the occasion of International Women’s Day 2016 (#IWD2016). Alongside her, some of the remarkable women in the GWP network speak up - about their journey to become successful in their professions, how to overcome obstacles they face as women, and also recommendations to other women.

On the occasion of International Women’s Day (8 March), Global Water Partnership South Asia (GWP SAS) 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.

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. 

The United Nations’ (UN) International Women’s Day is observed on March 8^th each year. It’s a day to “celebrate the social, economic, cultural and political achievement of women.”

If you’re in Trinidad, we encourage you to join our partner, The Fondes Amandes Community Reforestation Project (FACRP) in a series of fun and unique activities held during their Annual Fire Prevention GAYAP Celebration from March 11^th – 13^th, 2016.

The Global Water Partnership-Caribbean (GWP-C) has gotten even more social by joining Twitter on February 16^th, 2016.

The National celebration for World Wetlands Day organised by the Central Environment Authority (CEA) and Wild Life Department (WLD) was held on 2 February 2016 at a wetland site in Chilaw in the North Western Province under the Patronage of His Excellency the President of Sri Lanka, Maithripala Sirisena. Sri Lanka Water Partnership (SLWP) and Hatton National Bank were the two main collaborators of this national event while Mr Ranjith Ratnayake, Country Coordinator SLWP attended the celebration.