International waters are crucial for human well-being, providing a multiplicity of essential ecosystem services and supporting a wide range of economic activities all over the world. Ensuring the sustainable management of such resources is therefore of paramount importance. In this context, what would be key elements to consider? Is the way in which women and men interact with water resources relevant?
A new free e-learning module on gender and international waters discusses the importance of taking gender considerations into account and of engaging both women and men in improved governance systems that will foster a more equitable and sustainable water resource use for everybody.
This engaging learning resource, open to environmental specialists, development practitioners and policy-makers working on gender and international waters, as well as anyone interested, is self-paced and takes around 1 hour to complete. It is divided into three sections:
1. Gender & International Waters
2. Dimensions of International Waters and the Gender Gap
3. Gender and International Waters: A Framework for Action
After completing this module, you will be able to:
• Describe the relationship between gender and international waters.
• Identify key international commitments on gender equality and international water resources.
• Explain how gender equality contributes to the sustainable management of international waters.
• Provide examples of gender responsive initiatives related to international waters.
The module includes an interactive lesson, with videos, relevant statistics, case studies, exercises, key messages and references to additional resources. An offline version is also available for self-study or training purposes.
At the end, a quiz allows users to measure the achievement of the learning objectives and, if successful, receive a certificate of participation.
While self-standing, the module is part of the free e-learning course on the gender and environment that can be accessed on the UN CC:Learn e-learning platform. This course includes 6 modules on 1) gender and environment, 2) gender and biodiversity, 3) gender and climate change, 4) gender and land degradation, 5) gender and international waters, and 6) gender, chemicals and waste. A certificate of completion is made available to participants successfully completing the full course.
This e-learning product has been developed by the Global Environment Facility (GEF), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the GEF Small Grants Programme (SGP), UNITAR/UN CC:Learn, with valuable contributions from the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), UN Women, UNDP, UN Environment and the Secretariats of the Multilateral Environmental Agreements that the GEF serves, including the Convention on Biological Diversity, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification and the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions, among others.
