Discover the Compendium of the 100 African Women Leading Africa’s Water & Sanitation Future
The African Water and Sanitation Association and the Rural Water Supply Network (RWSN) are proud to announce the publication of the Inaugural Continental Compendium: 100 African Women Leading Africa’s Water & Sanitation Future (First Edition, 2026).
This groundbreaking volume celebrates and documents the exceptional contributions of African women transforming the design, governance, financing, and sustainability of water and sanitation systems across the continent.
Click here to download the Compendium
Purpose of the Compendium
This publication is released at a pivotal moment aligned with the global call to action led by UN-Water under the 2026 World Water Day theme Water and Gender.
This global agenda highlights a critical reality: the water crisis affects everyone but not equally, and women and girls bear a disproportionate burden.
Across Africa, women are central to water collection, management, and care, often at significant cost to their time, health, safety, and economic opportunities, yet they remain underrepresented in decision-making. This compendium responds to that imbalance by making visible and centering women not only as users of water systems, but as leaders, engineers, policymakers, and changemakers shaping their future.
A Defining Record of Leadership
The compendium is more than a publication; it is a defining record of leadership at a pivotal moment for Africa. It brings together the stories of 100 women whose work is reshaping inclusive, resilient, and gender-responsive WASH systems, grounded in international and continental commitments to equality and sustainable development. For decades, women have played a critical role in water and sanitation systems, yet their contributions have often remained invisible in policy discourse, investment decisions, and sector narratives.
By documenting their work in one authoritative volume, the compendium:
- Establishes a lasting record of expertise and impact
- Elevates African women as visible leaders in WASH
- Reclaims and strengthens African leadership in the global water narrative
Catalyzing Systems Change
Beyond recognition, the compendium serves as a catalyst for systemic change.
It reinforces a key insight aligned with global evidence:
when women have equal voice in water decision-making, systems become more inclusive, sustainable, and effective.
The publication aims to:
- Influence policy and governance by elevating women’s leadership
- Inform investment decisions by showcasing women-led solutions as scalable and investment-ready
- Strengthen pan-African collaboration and peer learning
- Inspire the next generation of women and girls to lead in WASH
By doing so, it contributes to a broader shift toward gender-responsive, climate-resilient water systems across Africa.
A Call to Action
This compendium supports the global call to centre women and girls in water solutionsnot only as beneficiaries, but as leaders shaping the future of water security.
As emphasized in the 2026 campaign:
“Where water flows, equality grows.”
Access the Compendium
Click here to download the Compendium
About AfWASA
African Women in Water and Sanitation Association is a continental organization committed to advancing women’s leadership, capacity, and visibility in Africa’s water and sanitation sector.
About RWSN
Rural Water Supply Network is a global network dedicated to improving sustainable water supply services, particularly in rural communities, and promoting inclusive and gender-responsive approaches.
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À propos de l'AAEA
L'Association Africaine de l'Eau et de l'Assainissement est une organisation continentale engagée à promouvoir le leadership, les capacités et la visibilité des femmes dans le secteur de l'eau et de l'assainissement en Afrique.
À propos du RWSN
Le Rural Water Supply Network est un réseau mondial dédié à l'amélioration des services d'approvisionnement en eau durable, particulièrement dans les communautés rurales, en promouvant des approches inclusives et sensibles au genre.
