Women and Girls Endure Severe Burden in Global Water Shortages, UN Issues Urgent Warning
A stark new report from the United Nations has highlighted that women and girls are disproportionately suffering from water shortages and inadequate sanitation worldwide, severely hindering economic and social progress in developing nations. The findings underscore a critical imbalance that demands immediate international action to safeguard health, education, and food security.
Massive Time Investment in Water Collection Exacerbates Gender Inequality
According to the UN, women are responsible for fetching water in over 70% of rural households without access to mains water across the developing world. Collectively, women and girls dedicate a staggering 250 million hours each day to this task globally. This immense time commitment not only limits opportunities for education and income generation but also perpetuates cycles of poverty and gender disparity.
The climate crisis is intensifying these challenges, with a 1°C temperature rise reducing incomes in female-headed households by 34% more than in male-headed ones. Additionally, women's weekly labour hours increase by an average of 55 minutes relative to men's due to climate-related impacts, further straining their economic prospects.
Health, Education, and Food Security at Risk Due to Poor Access
Poor sanitation disproportionately affects women, with an estimated 10 million adolescent girls in 40 lower-income countries missing school, work, or social activities between 2016 and 2022 due to lack of toilets. In 2024, data shows more than 2.1 billion people lacked safely managed drinking water, and 3.4 billion lacked safely managed sanitation, exacerbating health risks and limiting educational attainment.
Women are also underrepresented in water management decisions, particularly regarding agricultural land rights, where men often own twice as much land. Fewer than one in five workers in water utilities across 28 developing countries are women, highlighting systemic exclusion from governance roles.
Call for Action and Positive Community Impact
Khaled El-Enany, Director General of Unesco, emphasised that "ensuring women's participation in water management and governance is a key driver for progress and sustainable development." The report urges countries to accelerate efforts to address these imbalances, noting that when women have equal access to water, entire communities benefit.
Helen Hamilton of WaterAid warned that poor water and sanitation in clinics lead to unnecessary maternal deaths and expose women to gender-based violence during long walks to collect water. She stated, "Clean water, decent toilets, and good hygiene are not luxuries: they are the foundation of health, education, and economic opportunity."
Positive examples, such as a World Vision project in rural Kenya, demonstrate that involving women in water solutions can transform communities. After drilling a well and forming savings groups, women reported healthier children and increased time for family and small businesses, showcasing the broader benefits of inclusive action.
Parvin Ngala of World Vision noted, "Harmful social norms often fail to value the time and effort women invest in securing water and exclude them from decision-making. The economic consequences are real: women's opportunities to earn an income are almost impossible." The UN report calls for a collective push to manage water as a common good, ensuring women and men work side by side for societal advancement.
