Strengthening Women’s Leadership: AfWASA Organizes a Training for Women in the Water and Sanitation Sector
From May 27 to 29, 2025, Grand-Bassam (southeastern Côte d’Ivoire) will host a regional leadership training for the African Water and Sanitation Association's professional women's networks. Supported by the Gates Foundation, this training is part of a strategic program aimed at increasing the representation and influence of women in the water, sanitation, and hygiene sectors across Africa.
The training will bring together women’s networks from 15 French- and English-speaking countries, with the goal of equipping participants with essential skills in leadership, advocacy, self-esteem, and mentoring. Following the session, these change-makers will lead national-level training workshops in their respective countries, reaching over 200 women and young professionals in the sector.
The program will include interactive workshops, group discussions, expert roundtables, thematic presentations, and experience sharing. The approach will be highly participatory and action-oriented, ensuring that participants can fully integrate the skills and knowledge gained into their professional development and networks.
This initiative addresses a pressing issue: women remain underrepresented in public water and sanitation services. A 2022 AfWASA study involving 23 African utilities revealed that only 26% of employees are women, with just 17% in CEO or board-level positions. In technical fields, the figures are even lower: 22% of engineers and 14% of technicians are women. These findings echo those of the World Bank, which has also observed a high attrition rate among women in the sector due to persistent barriers throughout their careers.
By equipping women with tools to strengthen their leadership and occupy key roles, AfWASA aims to contribute to a sustainable transformation of the sector. A more inclusive and diverse workforce leads to stronger governance, more balanced decision-making, greater innovation, and services better tailored to community needs.
Through this training, AfWASA reaffirms its commitment to making women’s leadership a strategic driver for sustainable development in the water sector across Africa.
