What was the challenge?
Women are central to the management and use of water resources in rural households. They are often responsible for collecting water for domestic use, supporting household food production and managing activities that depend on reliable access to water. Despite these responsibilities, women have historically had limited opportunities to participate in decisions relating to water governance, catchment management and resource allocation. Strengthening their participation was therefore an important component of promoting inclusive water governance.
What did CESPAD do?
Through the Promoting Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) in Kenya project, CESPAD promoted participatory approaches that encouraged the involvement of women in Water Resource Users Associations (WRUAs), community planning processes and catchment management activities. Capacity development programmes, stakeholder consultations and community dialogue created opportunities for women to contribute to decisions affecting the management of local water resources alongside other community members and public institutions.
Women's participation was integrated throughout the project's governance activities rather than being implemented as a separate intervention. Through WRUAs, women participated in the preparation of Sub-Catchment Management Plans, environmental conservation initiatives and community discussions on water management priorities. These platforms enabled local knowledge and household experiences to inform planning and strengthened the inclusiveness of community decision-making processes.
What was produced?
The project also contributed to improvements in household water security that had direct implications for women's daily lives. Our project documentation shows that communities experienced improved access to water following interventions such as spring protection, catchment restoration and investments in water infrastructure. As water sources became more reliable and accessible, communities reported reduced time spent collecting water and improved availability of water for domestic use.
What changed?
Improved access to water allowed households to devote more time to other productive and social activities. While these benefits were experienced across communities, they were particularly relevant for women, who are frequently responsible for household water collection in rural settings. The experience illustrates how improvements in water governance and resource management can contribute to broader social and economic outcomes by reducing the burden associated with water insecurity. We documented these changes through community feedback gathered during implementation.
The project further demonstrated that inclusive governance strengthens the quality of water management decisions. By creating opportunities for women to participate in local institutions and planning processes, communities were able to draw on a wider range of experiences and perspectives when identifying priorities for water conservation and development. This reinforced the principle that effective governance depends on broad participation by all water users.
What did we learn?
Our experience highlights the importance of integrating gender inclusion within water governance rather than treating it as a standalone activity. By strengthening participatory institutions, supporting community dialogue and improving access to water resources, the project created conditions that enabled women to contribute more actively to the sustainable management of catchments while benefiting from improved household water security.