Sunday, February 21, 2016 will be a memorable date for the women of AfWA. In fact, the network of the professional women working in the water and sanitation sector held its 1st Forum during AfWA’s 18th Congress held in Nairobi, in Kenya.

This Forum was attended by women working in the water and sanitation utilities, Non-Governmental Organizations, Engineer, i.e. more than 200 women from 15 countries, as well as Managers of several water and sanitation utilities.

The topic of this 1st Forum was: “Strengthening the role of the woman within water sector utilities and sanitation services in Africa”. Two presentations were made during the first part of the work. The first one was made byDr. ROSE KAGGWA,Director, Business and Scientific Services of National Water and Sewerage Corporation of Uganda, on the Contribution of professional women to the achievement of the new sustainable development goals and to the universal access to drinking water and sanitation by 2030.

In the second presentation, Mrs. DIANE D’ARRAS future President of the International Water Association questioned on the Concrete actions to ensure the promotion, empowerment and leadership of the woman within the water and sanitation utilities.

Thereafter, Dr. LALLA ASMA EL KASMI, Communication and co-operation Manager of the ONEE Morocco Water branch presented the Moroccan experience as regards the promotion of woman within the professional environment.

All these contributions found an echo in the intervention of Mrs DUDUZILE Mieni, a former AfWA President who, while being pleased with the consideration of the place of woman in the water and sanitation related sectors, suggested that a permanent position is given to women within the Executive Board.