Rainwater harvesting for water security and gender equity

The sustainable development goals define four priority areas for water security and gender equity: minimising the time and distance burden on women and girls for fetching water; addressing sexual harassment, gender-based violence and psychosocial stress due to unsafe water and sanitation facilities; reducing water marginality so that women can be active, productive members of society; and improving social and political participation of women in water governance. This chapter details how a social enterprise is using rainwater harvesting and a socio-technical approach to deliver on these priorities while empowering women and changing societal norms. It was found that this approach, which combined water and sanitation provision with women's empowerment, was highly successful. The women water agents, often single parents, gained both water and financial security. Their social acceptance and status in their communities improved, and, in most cases, they became the source of information and advice on water issues in those communities. However, it was observed that cost remained a barrier to access to quality water in the wider community. Although water policies exist, water provision is highly reliant on non-governmental agents, and clear structures for water governance at the grassroots level are needed. This meant that the path for these women to actively participate in water policy and governance remains unclear. Therefore, a more joined-up effort between governmental and non-governmental agents is necessary to maximise the impact of rainwater systems in addressing water and gender equity issues.