Male Champions for Women’s Empowerment
What is the Male Champions for Women’s Empowerment initiative?
In 2023, the Cooperation in International Waters in Africa (CIWA) launched the Male Champions for Women’s Empowerment (previously Male Champion Forum) to work with a cadre of Male Champions who can take steps to support the active participation of women within the transboundary water context.
As the transboundary water sector is male dominated, CIWA believes that the Male Champions for Women’s Empowerment are uniquely well-placed to engage with other men to advocate for gender equality and women’s empowerment within transboundary water organizations at the local, national, regional and continental level.
What are the goals of the MCWE initiative?
CIWA has designed a pilot program to foster a cadre of men to spur changes in social norms and values on gender in transboundary water management and development, a sector that is dominated by men and strongly influenced by patriarchal norms and values.
CIWA believes that engaging men is key to transformative change and that working directly with pioneering men can help overcome male resistance to women having equal roles.
In the context of patriarchal cultural and social norms, women are stereotyped as being only water users rather than also as people who should have autonomy to make decisions about water use and management.
CIWA’s Male Champions for Women’s Empowerment has the following goals:
- Increase awareness about the critical role that men can play in championing gender equality in the transboundary water context.
- Identify actions and initiatives that Male Champions can take to advance gender equality in transboundary water institutions.
- Facilitate opportunities for Male Champions to take individual and collective action to promote opportunities for women to play a greater role in decision making in transboundary water institutions.
- Improve representation of women in decision making.
What makes a Male Champion?
What they say about the male champions for women’s empowerment?
Hear directly from our members as they share their views on the initiative. From navigating the complexities of modern masculinity to empowering women’s voices in the water sector and building an international network of fellow champions, our members express their gratitude for the transformative power of Male Champions for Women’s Empowerment.
SPECIAL EVENT
