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United Nations World Water Development Report 2026
Gender disparities in access to water
Although tangible progress in the provision of water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) services has been made, significant disparities persist. The poorest and most vulnerable of the world’s population remain the most affected, where women and girls still bear most of the responsibility for securing water to households. This leads to physical and mental stress, limiting their time and opportunities for education, productive work and social activities.
How UNESCO addresses gender inequality in the water sector
Through the World Water Assessment Programme (WWAP) and the Intergovernmental Hydrological Programme (IHP), UNESCO collects water data disaggregated by sex, age, and other dimensions as a critical step in better understanding how water is used, managed, and distributed. It conducts gender analyses to identify and understand gender issues, and how to adequately address them in planning, projects, and policies.
Collecting water data disaggregated by sex, age, and other dimensions is a critical step in better understanding how water is used, managed, and distributed. By conducting gender analyses, UNESCO identifies gender issues, and how governments can adequately address them in planning, projects, and policies.
Within the framework of UNESCO's Priority Gender Equality Action Plan, UNESCO WWAP is working on "Water and Gender Equality" along four axes, including indicators, methodology and tools on water and gender; capacity building; field projects and communication and advocacy.
UNESCO WWAP coordinates the production of the UN World Water Development Reports, on behalf of UN-Water.
UN World Water Development Report 2026
The UN World Water Development Report 2026, Water for all people: Equal rights and opportunities, will emphasize available data and actionable solutions to promote gender equality throughout the water sector.
The Report will highlight that gender equality-through access to clean, safe, and affordable water and sanitation, along with the equitable and meaningful participation of women in water governance is essential to poverty reduction and to building healthier, fairer societies with broad social and economic benefits.
It will be launched on 19 March 2026 at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, and at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris.
