ECUADOR/PERU – Involving women in decisions about the management of shared water resources can improve the quality of life in rural communities. Sixty-two women from Ecuador and Peru will spend four months sharing and strengthening their knowledge and skills thanks to the Binational Water School for Women.
In the Mayo-Chinchipe river basin, women play a vital role in agriculture, livestock farming, coffee production and water supply. If they are not involved in decisions about these activities, this can lead to exclusion, which increases the vulnerability of women and communities in general.
Women’s participation in all aspects of shared river basin management – from planning to implementation and follow-up – is therefore crucial, and it is important that not only men but also women are given the opportunity to strengthen their knowledge and skills. “This initiative is very important for us women. The training makes us more aware of our rights and also teaches us how to apply or claim those rights within our communities,” says Liliana Zosoranga Toledo, representative of the “Association for Political Coordination of Ecuadorian Women” in the canton of Chinchipe.
The first binational school for women is being organised in the city of Zumba, capital of the Ecuadorian canton of Chinchipe. Thirty-two women from Ecuador (Palanda – Chinchipe) and 30 from Peru (San Ignacio – Jaén), including leaders and representatives of organisations, are attending.
The school is not only an excellent opportunity for consultation, but will also provide women with insights into leading processes of social change, increasing resilience to climate change, and organising meetings between women. Other topics to be covered include: the role of women (and women’s organisations) in cross-border river basin management, the human right to water and sanitation, the institutional and operational framework of local (water) management, and environmental management.
The Binational Water School for Women will take place from April to July, with each module being offered alternately in Zumba (Ecuador) and San Ignacio (Peru). The course is supported by the universities of Loja (Ecuador) and Jaén (Peru) and will conclude with a binational meeting on social and gender equality in the Mayo-Chinchipe river basin.
With the support of
