b'SDG Image caption goes hereEqual representationwith women systematically excluded and within the water sectormarginalised within the water industry. The World Water Development Report 2016, found women to hold just 17% of the paid jobs within the water sector, including administration roles, Case studies evidence womens leadership inand that a clear divide exists between domestic water governance and active participation inuse of water, an area dominated by women, and water projects to be important.further more productive uses of water, such as As far back as 2006, an investigation by UNICEFwaste water management, which continues to and other organisations found placing womenbe male dominated. at the centre of water, sanitation and hygieneWomens professional and traditional roles (WASH), leads to better service provision,represent a significant social capital to be concluding that womens participation resultsutilised in achieving SDG 5 and SDG 6. Women in better health for all, greater dignity, and anare experts, leaders and agents of change, improvement in the status of women; with skillsperforming an important role in achieving and knowledge recognised, voices strengthened,equitable access to water for all, for all uses, gender-stereotypes challenged, and greaterincluding sanitation. It is therefore vital and opportunities for women to earn an income.effective to ensure that women participate at all A study by the International Union forlevels of decision-making, through the design, Conservation of Nature (IUCN), found thatimplemention and evaluation of projects, in where women have a role in decision-making,order to remove barriers and discriminatory benefits show increased attention to socialpractices. Allocation of sufficient means is and environmental factors, and the Asiannecessary to equip women for such roles, Development Bank found that water projectsparticularly vocational training. designed and implemented with the fullWomen represent one-half of the population, participation of women were more sustainableand yet a persistent lack of data muddies our and effective than those without. Findings areknowledge on the state of womens participation similarly supported by the World Bank, and thein the water sector. The role of women as International Red Cross.users and sharers of water is not sufficiently Despite such reported advantages, the numbersrecognised, and power differences continue of women involved in water projects remainto result in a limited number of opportunities modest, with progress slow, and barriersfor women to participate in decision-making persisting. Under-representation in science,processes. technology, engineering, and mathematics decreases the social and political power of women, allowing stereotypes to persist, soroptimistinternational.org 10'