Key Issues

1. Planning for climate change
2. Catchment area and ecosystem restoration and protection
3. Infrastructure and appropriate technology
4. Balancing water resources, development and protection
5. Basin planning

Recommendations

1. Encourage a culture of water awareness, conservation and ownership.
2. Encourage equity and inclusivity of pricing for water.
3. Involve women in catchment area and ecosystem restoration.
4. Establish operative policy, legislative and institutional frameworks.
5. Improve management of infrastructure and use appropriate technology
6. Balance water resources, development and protection.
7. Integrate basin planning as a first step.

Discussion

1. Including ecosystems in the overall discussion is essential.
2. Importance of behavior change for conservation of water.
3. Promoting ownership of local water resources in order to protect infrastructure.
4. Charging of water: Formal and informal water rates are disparate. Rates should be based on consumption and pollution.
5. Three voices: one is the users on the ground; second are the women listening to those on the ground/trusted reps and the third are the top-down planners and management level. There is an opportunity for two different groups of women to work towards harmonization.