UNU-INWEH Policy Brief: Oluwasanya, G., Omoniyi, A., Nunbogu, A., Qadir, M. & Madani, K. (2025). Women in African Water Leadership: Numbers Don't Lie. United Nations University Institute for Water, Environment and Health (UNU-INWEH), Richmond Hill, Ontario, Canada. Doi: 10.53328/INR25GRP002
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The higher women rise in Africa’s water sector, the fewer leadership opportunities they hold—a reality that sharply contrasts with decades of international commitments to gender-inclusive governance. Despite global recognition that women’s perspectives are critical to sustainable and equitable water management, they remain underrepresented in decision-making roles across the continent.
This policy brief from UNU-INWEH provides the first continent-wide numerical assessment of women’s leadership in water governance, focusing on three domains: national ministries, transboundary water organizations, and leading higher education institutions in water sciences. The data reveal that only 17% of African ministries responsible for water and sanitation are headed by women, just 13% of top educational institutions are led by women, and only one out of eleven transboundary organizations has female leadership. Even where progress exists—such as in low-income countries, where women hold 24% of water ministry leadership roles—it remains uneven and fragile.
The findings highlight a troubling disconnect between global policy rhetoric on gender equality and its practice. By quantifying women’s representation, this brief underscores the urgency of closing gender gaps, not only as a matter of equity but as a prerequisite for advancing sustainability, climate resilience, and water security goals across Africa.
