Dear All, 

The professional participation of women in the Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) sector has generally lagged behind expectations over the past years. Very few women, particularly on the African continent are known and seen to participate in;·    

• The design, development, and management of water and sanitation services,·        
• Identifying and sourcing funding for WASH activities, ·      
• Regulation of WASH services and· 
• Giving voice at the decision-making table on matters that concern them

The impacts of non-existing or unsafe and inadequate water and sanitation services on women is well understood and it is therefore important for women to take up professional roles and responsibilities towards alleviating these impacts on their lives and on their communities. The African Women Sanitation Professionals Network - Zambia Chapter (AWSPN-ZC) is a newly formed network, providing a platform for Zambian women in the WASH sector to network and interact over issues concerning their participation in sanitation activities, their sustained career growth and enhanced visibility and participation in decision making.

The network also aims to identify and promote women entrepreneurs in sanitation in order to bring about improved economic benefits and showcase women’s contribution to innovations relevant to the sector.

In its first two years of existence, the AWSPN-ZC will focus on mapping and profiling the needs, interests, and challenges of women in sanitation as well as successful role models; setting up mentoring structures for women professionals in Zambia; supporting female entrepreneurs along the sanitation service chain; enhancing WASH skills training especially for girls in collaboration with the Technical Vocational Training Authority, and supporting female participation at national, regional and international conferences and knowledge exchange fora. The AWSPN-ZC will work collaboratively with other partners.

AWSPN-ZC, will host an introductory webinar at a date to be announced soon.
The interim chairperson Dr. Barbara Kazimbaya-Senkwe, Senior WASH Governance Advisor for USAID’s Water Sanitation and Hygiene Finance (WASH-FIN) program, will lead the discussion with the help of other interim executive committee members.

The topics of discussion will include:

1. Current underrepresentation of women in key positions in WASH and its effects
2. Objectives of the African Women Sanitation Professional Network-Zambia Chapter
3.. current status of African Women Sanitation Professional Network-Zambia Chapter
4. Why you should be a part of AWSPN-ZC
5. Next steps

Do not miss out, register by email, stating your profession to: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Barbara Kazimbaya-Senkwe (PhD) | Senior WASHGovernance Advisor
Water, Sanitation and HygieneFinance (WASH-FIN)
 
A USAID program implemented by Tetra Tech

Hi Barbara,

Thanks for introducing the African Women Sanitation Professionals Network - Zambia Chapter (AWSPN-ZC)! Are there any chapters in other African countries yet? If not, what is planned in that regard?

Greetings,
Elisabeth

Dear forum,

Almaa organization has an interest to establish African Women Sanitation Professional Network - Sudan chapter. Because its based on public health and WASH professional and experts. If possible please provide us by the method and procedures.

With best regards,
Raga Elzian President of Almaa orgnization Khartoum Sudan

Dear All,

Get a chance to learn more about the newly created African Women in WASH Sanitation Professional Network- Zambia chapter. See flyer for details:



Regards,
Chaiwe

Very much looking forward to this session, Women in WASH!

Regards,

Dear Raga,

It is my pleasure to assist you with some information that will help you make the first steps in the creation of the African Women in Sanitation Professionals Network- Sudan Chapter. To begin with, the African Women Sanitation Professionals Network is an emerging network of African women. The organization focuses on seeking to shape, build, and strengthen the engagement of African Women in the development of sanitation on the continent and globally. The goal of the network is to increase the numbers, equip, and advance the prominence of women in the sanitation sector. Additionally, women need to be capacitated to undertake strategic roles, (beyond being users of sanitation services). .The network promotes diversity, inclusion, and opportunities for African Women to contribute to the development of the sanitation sector globally. The network was established due to the realization of the lack of well and strategically organized, meaningfully mobilized influential engagement sanitation policies, programs, and initiatives, which in most cases fail to/ inadequately address gender diversity and inclusion.

Zambia established a chapter which comprises of a 12-member interim committee, the network is registered under the Registrar of Societies as per requirement in Zambia. Our long-term attraction has been to set up the network and change the narrative on women in sanitation in line with the mother network.

We are excited to hear that Sudan is interested in establishing a chapter and we are more than willing to render the required support based on the Zambia experience. You can get in touch with the Network secretary (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) or better still contact the global network by emailing  barbara.senkwe@washfin.org

On the other hand, the Zambian chapter recently held a successful introductory webinar on the 13^th November 2020 to discuss and engage with members with respect to the long-term goals of the chapter. The network looks forward to more women and girls attending and being part of WASH related trainings and having women led sanitation and hygiene activities at community level. You can have a look at the webinar presentation attached.


Best Regards,
Chaiwe

Hi Chaiwe,

I looked at the presentation about the African Women Sanitation Professionals Network-Zambia Chapter that you posted and found it very interesting. I loved the last slide with the photos of all those active women in the sanitation sector in Zambia!

Just two questions:

1. I saw on the second last slide that members have to pay a fee. How much is the fee (in comparison to e.g. a simple lunch meal at a restaurant)? What is done with the collected fees? (I sometimes wonder if SuSanA will eventually also have to change to a fee based model)
2. I also saw mentioning of GIZ support. What does that entail and who long is it for?

Regards,
Elisabeth

Hi Elizabeth. Thank you for your questions and kind comments. 
The fee for ordinary membership is ZMW200 which is roughly USD10 per year. The funds are used for day to day administration of the network and for undertaking network activities such as hosting mentoring events etc. In relation to your remark on fees with regards to SuSanA, we opted to introduce the fee as part of enhancing commitment from our  members and enhancing sustainability of the network.  
The GIZ support is for a period of 2 years and intended to support full operationalization of the Zambia chapter as well as facilitating  outreach programs. 

Good afternoon Raga. Thank you very much for your question. We will be happy to provide you information on the setting up of a chapter in Sudan. Kindly send me an email on This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for further discussion.  

Dear All,

The African Women Sanitation Professional’s Network(AWSPN-ZC) has been in existence for over a year and has continued to grow, with more women from across the sector showing interest to be part of the network.
The under representation of women in WASH will continue to be an issue that requires more action and attention. In Zambia, for example there are still very few women who hold key technical positions in the WASH sector. The AWPSN-ZC hopes to change that narrative. Some of the key areas we focus on and hope to see change as a network include:

• Inclusion of women in WASH activities
• Promoting collaborative work among women in WASH to encourage participation at all levels
• Establishing  of mentoring structures for women in WASH
• Participation  in enhancement of WASH skills for women’s training in collaboration with Technical Vocational Training Authorities
• Offering support to female entrepreneurs in the WASH sector

The African Women Sanitation Professionals Network joined the rest of the world in celebrating the Menstrual Hygiene Day which was celebrated in Zambia at the National Science Centre. The event was graced by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of General Education and the Country Representative from UNICEF with many other supporting partners. The African Women Sanitation Professional Network was in attendance too and had a chance to exhibit the network’s existence and share the goals and vision of the network in the WASH sector. The Permanent Secretary was pleased to learn about the network’s progress and how it is complementing the Ministry’s efforts.
It was an exciting opportunity for us to be a part of this year’s celebrations, we will continue to advocate for the prominence of women in WASH strategic roles.



Regards,
Rosemary
 
 

Dear All,

The first day of the Zambia Water Forum and Exhibition(ZAWAFE) Conference took off today the 7^th of June, 2021 at the Mulungushi International Conference Centre with the theme “Innovative Action for Water and Sanitation: Leaving none behind.” The event was officially opened by her honor the vice president of the Republic of Zambia Mrs Inonge Wina.
The African Women Sanitation Professionals Network is among the key note speakers at the ongoing 9^th ZAWAFE Conference, the Interim Chairperson Dr. Barbara Senkwe in her speech today highlighted one of the key areas of focus of the network which is to implement mentoring programs for women and girls. In line with this the African Women Sanitation Professionals Network will host a mentoring session at the ongoing conference for young women working in the WASH sector and students pursuing WASH related studies in Zambia.
Here is the link to the mentoring session https://bit.ly/3vsLbJS
Date: Tuesday 8^th June, 2021
Time:09:00 am – 11:00 am (CAT).





#AWSPN
#WomenInSanitation
#ZAWAFE

Regards,
Rosemary
 
 

Empowering Women in Sanitation space to reach their potential.  A mentorship Session  for Students from the University  of Zambia,  Evelynhone College  and Natural  Resources  Development  College  by the African  Women in Sanitation Professionals Network _ Chapter at the Zambia  Water Forum and Exhibition  under the theme: Innovative Water and Sanitation.  Leaving  no one Behind.  The students  were excited  about this engagement  and requested  for more engagements of such kind. 
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