Task Force on Women Empowerment in Water Management (TF – WEWM) | International Commission on Irrigation & Drainage (ICID)

Chairman Message

Dr. Narges Zohrabi, Iran

The water crisis, one of the most complex challenges of the 21^st century, stems from a multitude of factors such as climate change, rapid population growth, inefficient consumption patterns, increasing demand, and mounting pressure on limited water resources. These issues have made a fundamental revision of water management and governance approaches inevitable. Global estimates indicate that by 2050, over two-thirds of the world's population will face water stress. This alarming projection underscores the necessity for adopting innovative approaches, comprehensive and inclusive strategies, and participatory management practices in water governance.

In this context, the participation of women in water governance and resource management, along with their empowerment, is recognized by the global community as a strategic imperative and practical measure for achieving sustainable development. The Water-Energy-Food Nexus approach, a paradigm shift in natural resource management, emphasizes the interconnection and mutual dependence of these three critical domains. By facilitating a comprehensive understanding of the intricate relationships between water, energy, and food systems, as well as of the socio-economic and environmental impacts of water-related decisions, this approach offers a unique opportunity to leverage women's inherent strengths in integrated and participatory natural resource management.

As the nexus approach evolves toward incorporating institutional capacity-building components, its success depends on steering strategic policies and establishing inclusive institutional frameworks within multi-level governance systems. Therefore, implementing such frameworks by activating women’s capacities at decision-making and water management levels becomes essential. Empowering and engaging women in water governance and management is not merely about representation or gender equity; it aims to integrate their innovative, creative, and inclusive perspectives alongside men’s viewpoints. Women’s active involvement in all stages of policy-making, planning, execution, monitoring, utilization, and conservation of water, energy, and food management programs fosters economic, social, and environmental well-being.

In response to this global necessity, the ICID Task Force on Women Empowerment in Water Management (ICID TF-WEWM) was established during the 74^th Executive Council Meeting of ICID on November 8, 2023, in Visakhapatnam, India. Its mission is to empower and enhance women’s roles in water governance and management, improving their standing in decision-making and policy processes for sustainable development across ICID member countries.

The task force’s roadmap and work program for the 2024–2026 period align with ICID’s Vision 2030, as outlined in this report. It encompasses a range of multilateral activities aimed at capacity building, empowerment, and increasing women's participation in water governance and management to achieve sustainable development goals. Key initiatives include assessing the current state of women’s participation, identifying opportunities to leverage their potential, reviewing global experiences and successful international models of women’s empowerment in decision-making and water management, and sharing these insights widely.

Moreover, member countries are encouraged to form local, regional, and national task teams or task forces to promote women’s empowerment and participation in decision-making and management processes. Another key objective is establishing partnerships with international networks and collaborating with national, regional, and global institutions involved in related activities. These collaborations will facilitate access to best practices and successful models worldwide, enabling shared learning and enhancing the effectiveness of actions at local, national, regional, and international levels.

The implementation of this work program will be supported through awareness campaigns, technical and managerial training, capacity development initiatives, knowledge exchange platforms, and specialized workshops and seminars involving national and international experts. It will also include joint pilot studies and projects in collaboration with national and international institutions.

The task force firmly believes that empowering and actively involving women in decision-making and implementation processes not only leads to better water management but also strengthens sustainable communities, enhances socio-economic and environmental equity, and improves resilience and adaptability to climate change challenges. Through collective efforts and collaboration, we can pave the way toward a fairer, more sustainable world with efficient management of water resources—a world where women act as leaders and agents of change, playing a vital role in shaping the future. Finally, I invite all experts, organizations, and communities at local, national, regional, and international levels to actively participate in implementing this roadmap. Together, with collective wisdom and dedicated effort, we can make a lasting and meaningful impact, forging a sustainable, equitable, and prosperous future for all.

Membership

Sl. No.	Name	Email	Country	Position
1	Dr. Narges Zohrabi	na*************	Iran	Chair
2	Ms. Karlene Maywald	Ka*************	Australia	Vice Chair
3	Ir. A. Umarani	au*************	India	Member
4	Dr. Amani Alfarra	am*************	Canada	Member
5	Ms. Anupama Madhok Sud	an*************	India	Member
6	Dr. Ashish Pandey - Direct Member	as*************	India	Member
7	Bakhriniso Narzullaeva	ba*************	Tajikistan	Member
8	Dr. Behzad Navidi Nassaj	be*************	Iran	Member
9	Engr. (Mrs.) Esther Oyeronke Oluniyi - Vice President	eo*************	Nigeria	Member
10	Ms. Florence Iwalanwo Oyakhirome	fl*************	Nigeria	Member
11	Dr. Fuqiang Tian - Vice President	ti*************	China	Member
12	Mrs. Hauwa Muhammed Sadigue	ha*************	Nigeria	Member
13	Prof. (Ms.) HONG Eun Mi	eu*************	South Korea	Member
14	Husnoro Saidova	hu*************	Tajikistan	Member
15	Mr. Kushvinder Vohra - Vice President Hon.	ku*************	India	Member
16	Prof. Datin Ir Dr. Lariyah Binti Mohd Sidek	La*************	Malaysia	Member
17	Ms. Li Ruoxi	li*************	China	Member
18	Dr. (Ms.) Li-Chi Chiang	lc*************	Chinese Taipei Committee	Member
19	Dr. (Ms.) Mikiko SUGIURA	su*************	Japan	Member
20	Dr. Mohamed Abd El Moneim Wahba - Vice President Hon.	ms*************	Egypt	Member
21	Mrs. Najiba Fayez Motahar	na*************	Afghanistan	Member
22	Dr. (Ms.) Naoko KOSHIYAMA	ko*************	Japan	Member
23	Ms. Nooraida binti Mokhtar	no*************	Malaysia	Member
24	Ir. Nor Hafizah Binti Mohd Suhadis	no*************	Malaysia	Member
25	Mrs. Nur Hareza binti Redzuan	nu*************	Malaysia	Member
26	Ms. Nwabisa Masekwana	ma*************	South Africa	Member
27	Ms. Palo Kgasago	Pa*************	South Africa	Member
28	Dr. (Ms.) Shima Kabiri	Ka*************	Iran	Member
29	Shohida Tulieva	sh*************	Tajikistan	Member
30	Ir. (Ms.) Siti Hawa Adila Binti Mohd Yusof	si*************	Malaysia	Member
31	Prof. Dr. Sylvester Mpandeli - Vice President Hon.	sy*************	South Africa	Member
32	Ir. T. V. Padmashankari	pa*************	India	Member
33	Dr. Tao Yuan - Young Professional	ta*************	China	Member
34	Prof. Dr. Tsugihiro WATANABE - Vice President Hon.	wa*************	Japan	Member
35	Dr. Vadim Sokolov - Vice President	va*************	Uzbekistan	Member
36	Ms. Yasmin Siddiqi (Asian Development Bank)	ya*************	Philippines	Member
37	Ir. Yuslina Binti Hj. Mohd Sani	yu*************	Malaysia	Member
38	Dr. Zahra Soltan	Za*************	Iran	Member

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