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Mr Iswer Raj Onta, Regional Chair Global Water Partnership South Asia (GWP SAS) (2013-2015), passed away on Sunday, 6 March 2016. The entire GWP Network is saddened by his departure and it is a great loss to the South Asia Region.

On the occasion of International Women’s Day (8 March), We have interviewed Mrs Hadja KORA ZAKI Mariame, the Chair of the National Association of users of the natural resources of the River Niger Basin in Benin (ANU-Benin) in the department of Atacora in the Northwest of the country.

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.

 

My name is Celine Pole Sikulisimwa, a Congolese senior lecturer at the University of Kinshasa in the Democratic Republic of Congo. My field of specialization is water science and technology.

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.

1.  Tell Us, Who is Bogadi Mathangwane?

My full names are Mrs. Bogadi Theresa Mathangwane, National Deputy Director responsible for Water Resources planning, development and management in Botswana.  I am an International Water Resource Management expert and active in promoting water conservation and water demand management measures and practices thus promoting water use efficiency in the country. I possess broad background in social, economic, environmental and technical aspects of water resources.

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.