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The value of water for women:

Transforming lives at the Guarani Aquifer

By IW:LEARN

March 27^th, 2024

In the lush province of Misiones, in the northeast of Argentina and graced by the Paraná River, water is much more than a vital resource; it is the heartbeat of daily life, especially for the women who inhabit this region. From fertile lands to humble homes, water plays a fundamental role in the daily activities of the women of Misiones. Across the Uruguay River, on the border between Brazil and Uruguay, specifically in the town of Rivera, water also holds a central role in women's rights. How does women's access to water play a fundamental role in local sustainable development?

Let’s explore the value of water from the perspective of the women who inhabit the vast territory of the Guarani Aquifer System and how their access and use impact their lives and communities.

The voice of women: testimonies on water

"For us, water is life. From dawn till dusk, water is present in every aspect of our lives. It's what irrigates our crops, cleans our clothes, and enables us to prepare food for our families. Without water, our daily activities would be severely affected,"

comments María, a rural woman from Misiones.

"Water is much more than a resource; it's a bond that unites us as a community. Women gather on the riverbanks to wash clothes and share their joys and concerns. In those moments, while sharing stories by the water, we strengthen our bonds and support each other,"

shares Laura, a mother and homemaker from Posadas, the capital of Misiones.

"Access to clean and safe water is fundamental to our health and well-being. As mothers, we deeply care about the health of our children, and water plays a crucial role in their nutrition, hygiene, and development. Ensuring a constant supply of drinking water is a priority for us as caregivers of our families,"

emphasizes Marta, a community leader in a rural area of Misiones.

"In addition to its practical importance, water holds symbolic and cultural value for us. In our community, we celebrate rituals and ceremonies that honor water as a source of life and renewal. These traditions connect us with our land and roots, strengthening our identity and sense of belonging,"

reflects Ana, an indigenous artisan of the Guarani ethnic group.

"Water is more than a resource; it is life itself. Living on the border between Brazil and Uruguay teaches us that water knows no political boundaries and its care transcends any border. It is our responsibility to protect it and share its access fairly and equitably for all communities that depend on it,"

says Mireya, a woman from Rivera.

Commitment to a sustainable future through women’s rights

The words of these women from Misiones and Rivera reflect their deep emotional and practical connection with water in their daily lives. From nutrition to health, community cohesion to cultural preservation, water is a fundamental pillar for the well-being of women and their families in Misiones. In a world where access to clean and safe water remains a challenge for millions, it is imperative to recognize and value the crucial role that women play in the management and conservation of this vital resource. By promoting policies and actions that guarantee equitable access to water and empower women as agents of change, we can build a fairer and more sustainable future for all.

"The transboundary cooperation in the management of the Guarani Aquifer System must recognize and address gender disparities to ensure equity and sustainability in access and use of this vital resource for the communities of the region," notes Ricardo Burg, International Coordinator of the Guarani Aquifer System Project. We are incorporating a gender perspective in water management: a transformative approach for the Guarani Aquifer System.

Through consultative processes with women from rural areas, local communities, governmental institutions and universities in Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay, the Guarani Aquifer System Project has promoted workshop discussions. It is working towards incorporating gender mainstreaming in the Strategic Action Plan (SAP) that will serve as a basis for a future full-sized project.

In the quest for effective solutions to ensure equitable access to water, it is imperative to consider the gender disparities in using and managing this vital resource. While progress has been made in understanding the different roles and needs of women and men in relation to water, much remains to be done regarding gender mainstreaming related to data collection and analysis. Evidence-based policies must address the realities that negatively affect the population, recognizing direct inequalities and those ingrained in the sector.

Over the course of more than four decades, global conferences have promoted joint goals that include a gender perspective in environmental dialogue. Countries within the Guarani Aquifer System region have also developed regulatory frameworks for addressing these issues. However, a comprehensive analysis of regulatory progress, complemented by sustained actions that promote equality in water-related rights, is needed.

Considering the workshops and field experiences carried out by the Project, proposals to incorporate gender mainstreaming in the SAP will be discussed among the countries.

A gender-perspective survey on water demand is necessary to close the data gap and develop concrete actions and indicators. This form would provide gender-disaggregated data to identify and address existing inequities in underground water access and use.

Additionally, the project proposes the creation of a public and accessible database collecting gender and water information, fueled by the aforementioned forms. This database would provide decision-makers with the necessary evidence to implement informed and equitable policies in the water sector.

To support these efforts, specific indicators integrating a gender perspective in water resource management must be developed. Working in collaboration with organizations, systems of indicators guiding actions towards greater gender equality in water access can be implemented.

Furthermore, it is essential to promote research that incorporates a gender perspective in technical institutes and universities. This will help generate more inclusive and equitable knowledge and strengthen policies in the field of groundwater management.

In a community-based approach, it is important to build capacities in local communities to interpret water monitoring systems, ensuring their autonomy in local management. It is also important to consider that often, local knowledge, such as the color or types of plants present in an area, can be relevant for evaluating water quality. This knowledge is usually associated with women and presents an interesting opportunity to be integrated into monitoring systems, facilitating effective collaboration between the communities and monitoring teams.

Ultimately, by incorporating a gender perspective at all stages of integrated water management, we can advance towards a future

About the project

The purpose of this project is to help the countries accelerate the implementation of the regional actions proposed in the Strategic Action Plan. Additionally, to establish the technical coordination frameworks and tools essential for the long-term sustainability of the resource and to comply with the provisions of the Guarani Agreement.

The GEF grant fund was managed through the Development Bank of Latin America (CAF), as an Implementing Agency, and it has been agreed that the international Executing Agency will be UNESCO, through its Regional Science Office in Montevideo, which administers the funds and has set up a Project Coordination Unit (PCU), with the technical support of the Regional Center for Groundwater Management (CeReGAS).