OSCE trains women from Central Asia in advancing their career opportunities in the water sector

COPENHAGEN, 27 November 2015 – A one-week training course for female water professionals from Central Asia, jointly organized by the Office of the Co-ordinator of OSCE Economic and Environmental Activities (OCEEA) and the OSCE Gender Section, in co-operation with the Women’s Water Initiative, concluded today in Copenhagen.

Nine water professionals from state agencies, NGOs, private sector and regional organizations from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan in or on their way into middle management positions took part in the training course.

“Women and men have different responsibilities and roles, and therefore also different knowledge and experience in relation to the environment and the management of water,” said Jenniver Sehring, Environmental Affairs Adviser at OCEEA. “Gender mainstreaming and women empowerment are important aspects to improve water governance, as they can lead to more effective and responsive policies that take specific needs and interest into account and reduce social imbalances.”

The capacity development programme included short courses in career development and project management in the water sector, as well as in water governance and environmental technologies. Participants also visited Danish organizations dealing with water issues and learnt about their experience in water management and conflict resolution.

Hanna Sands, OSCE Gender Adviser, said: “Even though at first glance water management might seem like an issue that is technical and lacks a gender perspective, the truth is that we can’t have efficient water management without taking into account both women and men’s need and usage of it. It is crucial that women form part of the decision-making processes in water management in order to add this perspective, but also to be part of the structures that shape their everyday life.”

After the training course, the Women’s Water Initiative will maintain contact with the participants through a mentoring component. A senior Danish manager will serve as a mentor for each candidate.

Jesper Goodley Dannisøe of the Danish Water Forum, which organized the course on behalf of the Women’s Water Initiative, said that empowerment of women in the water sector is a very important task. “Our experiences from previous courses have shown that this helps not just the women but also their societies.”

The training course is part of the project “Women, Water Management and Conflict Prevention - Comprehensive Approach to Security”, funded by the Governments of Finland, Norway and Switzerland.