Almost half of the countries surveyed in the new GLAAS Report state that they are short of 50% of the skilled workers required for WASH services; at the same time, women account for only around 22% of the workforce, partly due to gender-specific barriers. 
 
So here is the reality: Around 80% of paid jobs in water and WASH are still held by men, while water and sanitation service delivery needs up to 50% more water experts on all levels. Women face barriers at every career step — and every woman pushed out drains the sector of innovation, leadership, and overall progress.  
And this is not only about young or early career professionals. Women drop out of our sector at every career milestone. 
 
The evidence is there, the solutions and tools as well. But they need to be put into budgets and implementation. 
 
The Stronger Together! Coalition brings together knowledge and agents of change through allies and most importantly, the global and regional networks of women working on all dimensions of water, reaching more than 15,000 women worldwide. With nine women led networks – four with global and five with regional focus on South Asia, Africa, Latin America, the Middle East, and Indigenous Water Women, the Stronger Together! Coalition centers empowering women, fostering collaboration, and advocating for gender equality in water and sanitation jobs.  
 
2026 is an important year for water – from regional events to the review of SDG 6 at the High-Level Political Forum (HLPF) and the third UN water conference including its preparatory process.   
 
There is a lot going on and Stronger Together! Coalition members and partners will lead exciting work, events, and activities, for the network members, for water and sanitation women, and like-minded organizations to elevate our joint agenda. 
 
Here are some of the highlights of joint action in 2026: 
 
The Stronger Together! Coalition has kick-started a busy year in January at the Multi-Stakeholder Day and the UN High-Level Preparatory Meeting in Dakar and will advocate for women water and sanitation experts with equal opportunities throughout the year.  
In Dakar the Coalition pushed for the voice of women in the workforce to be well established throughout the process and across all six Interactive Dialogues. The message was clear: investing in women is investing in sustainable solutions. When women can enter, stay and lead in the water and sanitation workforce, participation translates into progress, innovation into services, and services into reaching more people. The successful and high-level Water Diplomacy Symposium in Dakar was co-convened by the Stronger Together! Coalition, clearly drawing the connections of water security, peace, and gender equality.  
 
Soon, we’re launching a cohort process under the Hilton Foundation grant to support meaningful participation in the lead-up to the 2026 UN Water Conference.  
 
It’s an open invitation: tell us how you want to engage, and we’ll help you prepare.  
 
Through an open interest form, we’ll connect women across our networks with opportunities, webinars and peer support - from understanding the UN process, to navigating logistics, to building confidence for speaking and negotiating. We’re creating an evergreen “Guide to Making the Most of a Conference” with Community of Women in Water - so that knowledge is accessible to all, whether you attend in person or join online. 
 
We know community matters. That’s why we’ll keep the rhythm of in-person mingles and online engagements across the year. The African Water and Sanitation Association (AfWASA) Professional Women Network in WASH, Women in Water Diplomacy, UN-Habitat/GWOPA, Aquafed and other members and allies are committed to provide safe and inspiring spaces for women to meet in person and online. We’re grateful for the support by the Hilton Foundation for an event at All Systems Connect in Kigali and the support by BMZ/GIZ for a Mingle at the Stockholm World Water Week. Members and allies are planning smaller meetups along sector events, complemented by online engagements for every woman interested but not necessary traveling. This serves for women to find each other, ask questions, and make plans. Stay tuned and follow our SuSanA LinkedIn page for updates. 
 
Across our networks, women are leading discussions and impulse for change  
 
The Women in Water Diplomacy Water Diplomacy Symposium which was held in Senegal in January will convene for a second event later this year at the 2026 UN Water Conference.  
The African Water and Sanitation Association (AfWASA) Professional Women Network in WASH created the visionary and inspiring African Women in WASH Awards with the first winner announced a few weeks ago. With South Asia Young Women in Water, young women are building careers through research, projects and policy engagement. Community of Women in Water is hosting Water & WASH Career Days, accessible across languages and time zones. The Women in Water & Sanitation Network is hosting regular online networking meetings, workshops and masterclasses. And for those who prefer mentoring, the Rural Water Supply Network (RWSN) is opening Coalition-wide mentorship this spring - an invitation to experienced professionals to guide the next generation. And as of this week, we’re excited to announce that we have a new network member, Mujer y Agua América Latina y el Caribe. The coalition is growing and we’re looking forward to welcoming new members and allies in 2026.  
 
These efforts are different in form but united in purpose: connect, learn, and act. 
This year, we already successfully piloted a robust participatory mechanism in Dakar, positioned ourselves in the UN DESA Report, pushed for the topic of women/gender and workforce to be mentioned in the Water Diplomat, and supported strong language on women as workforce in the official multi-stakeholder plenary feedback. 
 
If you’re reading this, you’re invited to be part of the story. Join the Cohort, become a member of a network (or more), sign up as a mentor - or encourage a colleague to do so. Share a resource for the Conference Guide. Bring your fellow water and sanitation women and your networks into the conversation. Most importantly, join us online or on site and let your voice shape the path from participation to delivery, innovation to impact. 
 
Stronger Together! is more than a name. It’s how we work, how we join forces, and how we deliver. This World Water Day Day, we celebrate the progress we’ve made and reaffirm our commitment to the tasks ahead - so that women’s leadership is the norm, services reach everyone, and the promise of universal access to water and sanitation becomes a reality.