Women and Girls Face Disproportionate Impact of Global Water Crisis

A recent report by the United Nations highlights that women and girls are disproportionately affected by global water shortages and inadequate sanitation, which significantly hinders their economic and social development. Women are responsible for collecting water in over 70% of rural households lacking access to mains water, collectively spending 250 million hours daily on this task. The climate crisis exacerbates these challenges, with a 1°C rise in temperature leading to a 34% greater income reduction in female-headed households compared to their male counterparts.

The GuardianUN: Time Poverty & Climate Risk Why Women Bear the Brunt of the Global Water Crisis

The UN World Water Development Report reveals that as of 2024, more than 2.1 billion people lack safely managed drinking water, while 3.4 billion lack adequate sanitation. This situation is particularly dire for women and girls, who face significant barriers to education and economic opportunities due to their responsibilities in water collection. The report also notes that girls under 15 are nearly twice as likely as boys to fetch water, further entrenching gender disparities.

The GuardianUN: Time Poverty & Climate Risk Why Women Bear the Brunt of the Global Water Crisis

Khaled El-Enany, director general of UNESCO, emphasized the importance of women's participation in water management, stating, “Ensuring women’s participation in water management and governance is a key driver for progress and sustainable development.” Helen Hamilton, head of public health policy at WaterAid, pointed out that poor access to water in clinics leads to unnecessary maternal deaths and exposes women to gender-based violence during long water collection journeys.

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Critics argue that current efforts to address water access are insufficient. Alvaro Lario, president of the International Fund for Agricultural Development, stated that countries are moving too slowly to rectify these imbalances. The report calls for gender-responsive water governance and financing to ensure equitable access and representation for women in decision-making roles.

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The report highlights that fewer than one in five workers in water utilities across 28 developing countries are women. Additionally, an estimated 10 million adolescent girls in 40 lower-income countries missed school or work between 2016 and 2022 due to inadequate sanitation facilities. The reliance on unpaid female labor for water collection exacerbates poverty and structural inequality.

UN: Time Poverty & Climate Risk Why Women Bear the Brunt of the Global Water Crisis

The UN report advocates for a strategic roadmap to integrate gender into water governance. This includes legal reforms to decouple water rights from land ownership, ensuring women have access to water for agricultural purposes. It also emphasizes the need for gender-sensitive budgeting and the recognition of unpaid labor in national planning.

UN: Time Poverty & Climate Risk Why Women Bear the Brunt of the Global Water Crisis

Moving forward, policymakers are urged to implement measures that prioritize women's leadership in water governance and address menstrual hygiene in schools. The report suggests that India, for instance, could enhance its Jal Jeevan Mission by ensuring functional tap connections to alleviate the burden on rural women.

UN: Time Poverty & Climate Risk Why Women Bear the Brunt of the Global Water Crisis

• “Today’s report lays bare a stark injustice: women and girls are carrying the heaviest burden of the global water crisis,” — Helen Hamilton, Head of Public Health Policy, WaterAid

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• “We need women and men to manage water side by side as a common good that benefits the whole of society.” — Alvaro Lario, President, International Fund for Agricultural Development

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• “Parvin Ngala, the global director for water at World Vision, said: “Harmful social norms often fail to value the time and effort women invest in securing water and exclude them from decision-making.” — Parvin Ngala, Global Director for Water, World Vision

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This comprehensive analysis underscores the urgent need for targeted interventions to address the gendered impacts of water scarcity and to promote equitable access to water resources globally.

UN: Time Poverty & Climate Risk Why Women Bear the Brunt of the Global Water Crisis