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Terms and concepts / GWANET

Glossary

62 terms on gender equality and water resources. Select a term to read its full definition and sources.

Terms shown: 62

A

Agency

Agency refers to the capacity of individuals or groups to define their own goals, make informed decisions, and take action to achieve those goals, even when faced with constraints. In the context of water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH), agency is demonstrated when women and girls not only use services but also influence decisions about water sources, the location and design of sanitation facilities, the division of household responsibilities, and the functioning of water committees. Agency requires access to information and resources, opportunities to voice needs and concerns, meaningful participation in decision-making, and the ability to bring about change. Women's attendance at meetings, therefore, does not in itself indicate that they have agency. What matters is whether their views are taken into account and whether they can influence outcomes. Assessing agency helps determine whether water-related programmes enhance service users' ability to make choices and influence decisions or reinforce existing inequalities.

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B

Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action

The Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action is a global framework for advancing gender equality and women's empowerment, adopted at the Fourth World Conference on Women in 1995. The Declaration sets out governments' political commitments, while the Platform for Action establishes strategic objectives and concrete measures in 12 critical areas of concern, including poverty, education, health, the economy, participation in decision-making, human rights and the environment. Although not an international treaty, the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action provides a framework for national gender equality policies and periodic reviews of progress achieved. Of particular relevance is the critical area of concern "Women and the Environment", which calls for women's equal participation in environmental decision-making and the integration of gender perspectives into sustainable development policies, natural and water resources management, and efforts to ensure access to safe water.

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C

Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW)

The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) is an international human rights treaty concerning women's rights, adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 1979 and entered into force in 1981. The Convention is legally binding on States parties, defines discrimination against women and obliges them to eliminate such discrimination both in law and in practice. Its provisions cover political and public life, education, employment, health care, nationality, economic and social rights, the situation of rural women, equality before the law, and marriage and family relations. To accelerate the achievement of substantive equality, the Convention permits the adoption of temporary special measures. Implementation of the Convention is monitored by the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women, to which States parties are required to submit periodic reports. Article 14(2)(h) recognises the right of rural women to enjoy adequate living conditions, including access to water supply and sanitation. General Recommendation No. 34 further elaborates on their rights to water and natural resources, as well as their participation in water governance bodies.

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D

Discrimination

Discrimination refers to any distinction, exclusion, restriction or less favourable treatment based on a particular characteristic, which has the purpose or effect of impairing the equal recognition, enjoyment, exercise or protection of rights and freedoms. Discrimination may be intentional or occur without any explicit discriminatory intent. What matters is not only the motivation behind a measure but also the actual effects of a legal provision, decision or established practice.

Several main forms of discrimination can be distinguished:

- By ground: Sex-based discrimination includes less favourable treatment on the basis of sex, including discrimination related to pregnancy and maternity. Gender-based discrimination arises from socially constructed gender roles, norms and stereotypes.

- By mechanism: Direct discrimination occurs when a person is treated less favourably explicitly because of their sex or another protected characteristic. Indirect discrimination occurs when an apparently neutral rule, requirement or practice places persons of a particular sex at a particular disadvantage.

- By the interaction of grounds: Multiple discrimination refers to situations in which a person experiences discrimination on two or more grounds, either independently or successively. Intersectional discrimination occurs when gender interacts with age, disability, income level, marital status, place of residence or other factors to produce distinct forms of disadvantage.

- By source and level of manifestation: Discrimination may be established in law (de jure discrimination) or arise in practice, including through the application of formally neutral provisions (de facto discrimination). It may also be individual, institutional or structural. Structural discrimination occurs when inequalities are systematically perpetuated through institutional arrangements, resource allocation and entrenched social norms.

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E

Emancipation of Women

Emancipation of women refers to the historical and ongoing process of women's liberation from legal, economic, political and social subordination and the achievement of equal status with men. It encompasses the abolition of discriminatory laws and practices, the dismantling of restrictive gender norms, and the establishment of equal access to education, paid employment, property ownership, inheritance, political participation and decision-making. Women's emancipation goes beyond the formal recognition of equal rights. It also requires that women are able to exercise these rights in practice, exercise control over resources and make autonomous decisions about their own lives. The term encompasses both collective struggles and the transformation of social institutions, as well as the resulting changes in women's status and position in society. Emancipation differs from feminism in that feminism encompasses a range of ideas and movements, whereas emancipation refers to the process and outcomes of liberation from unequal status and subordination.

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F

Feminism

Feminism encompasses a range of ideas, theories, social movements and practices aimed at achieving equal rights for women and eliminating discrimination on the basis of sex and gender. It is grounded in the recognition that women have historically faced, and continue to face, unequal access to rights, resources, opportunities and decision-making. Feminist approaches examine how laws, institutions, social norms and power relations perpetuate these inequalities and propose ways to address them. Feminism is not a single, unified doctrine. Its various strands differ in how they explain the causes of gender inequality and the changes needed to overcome it. Intersectional feminism also recognises that women's experiences and circumstances vary according to age, ethnicity, disability, socio-economic status and other factors. Feminism does not advocate the superiority of women over men. Its fundamental aim is to achieve equal rights, opportunities and dignity for all.

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G

Gender

Gender refers to the socially constructed roles, norms, behaviours, responsibilities, opportunities and relationships that societies associate with women, men, girls and boys. Unlike biological sex, gender is shaped through socialization, varies across cultural and historical contexts, and can change over time. Gender norms influence the division of labour and power, access to resources and services, participation in decision-making, and control over benefits. Gender is therefore not synonymous with "women"; it also encompasses relationships between and among different groups of women and men. In the water sector, a gender-responsive approach helps identify who collects and uses water, who participates in water governance, who bears the risks associated with water scarcity, and how equitably resources, responsibilities and opportunities are distributed.

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Gender Analysis

Gender analysis is the systematic examination of how gender roles, norms and power relations shape the circumstances of women and men in a given context. It examines the division of paid and unpaid work, differences in needs and priorities, access to and control over resources and services, participation in decision-making, and the distribution of benefits and risks. Gender analysis draws on quantitative and qualitative data, disaggregated wherever possible by sex and other relevant characteristics, such as age, income, disability status and place of residence. Its purpose is to identify the underlying causes of inequality and assess whether a policy, programme or project is likely to reduce or exacerbate existing inequalities. In the water sector, gender analysis helps determine who has access to water and related infrastructure, who bears the associated responsibilities and time burdens, and who has influence over resource allocation.

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Gender Audit

Gender audit is a systematic assessment of the extent to which gender equality principles are integrated into an institution's policies, programmes, projects, organisational structure, budget, human resource management processes and day-to-day practices. It examines documents, data, resource allocation, participation in decision-making and actual outcomes for women and men to identify strengths, gaps and barriers. A gender audit may involve desk reviews, interviews, surveys and participatory discussions with staff and affected groups. It typically results in recommendations and an action plan for improvement. A gender audit is neither a financial audit nor a simple headcount of women and men.

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Gender Balance and Gender Parity

Gender balance and gender parity are closely related quantitative concepts used to describe the representation of women and men. Gender balance refers to a distribution of women and men within a governing body, organisation, project or decision-making process in which neither group is consistently underrepresented. It generally implies broadly comparable levels of representation. Gender parity refers more specifically to equal numbers or proportions of women and men and may be measured as the ratio of the value of an indicator for women to the corresponding value for men. However, equal numbers of women and men do not necessarily guarantee equal influence, access to resources or participation in decision-making. It is therefore important to assess not only numerical representation but also the positions held, decision-making authority, opportunities to voice opinions and the ability to influence decisions concerning water allocation, financing and governance. Gender balance and gender parity are important indicators, but neither is synonymous with gender equality.

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Gender Bias

Gender bias refers to the tendency to perceive and evaluate individuals or make decisions based on assumptions and stereotypes about women and men rather than relevant facts and evidence. Gender bias may be explicit and conscious or implicit, manifesting itself in habitual expectations, language, assessment criteria and institutional procedures. For example, the same behaviour may be judged differently depending on whether it is exhibited by a woman or a man, while certain abilities, occupations or responsibilities may automatically be associated with one sex. Gender bias is not synonymous with discrimination. Rather, it represents an attitude or systematic distortion in judgement that may influence decision-making and lead to unequal treatment or outcomes. Identifying gender bias involves applying transparent assessment criteria, analysing data, comparing outcomes and reviewing procedures to detect underlying gender stereotypes.

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Gender Blindness

Gender blindness refers to an approach that fails to recognize or disregards socially constructed differences in the roles, responsibilities, needs, opportunities and access to resources of women and men. Gender-blind policies, programmes or data collection systems assume that the same measures affect everyone equally. However, measures that appear to treat everyone equally may perpetuate or exacerbate existing inequalities if differences in the distribution of time, income, power and responsibilities are not taken into account. Overcoming gender blindness requires the use of sex-disaggregated data, gender analysis, the meaningful participation of affected groups, and an assessment of the distributional impacts of policies and interventions.

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Gender Development Index (GDI)

Gender Development Index (GDI) is a composite index developed by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) that compares the achievements of women and men in three basic dimensions of human development. The Human Development Index (HDI) is calculated separately for women and men using life expectancy at birth, expected years of schooling, mean years of schooling and estimated earned income. The GDI is then calculated as the ratio of the female HDI value to the male HDI value. A value of 1 indicates gender parity, a value below 1 indicates that women's overall human development achievements are lower than men's, and a value above 1 indicates that women's achievements are higher. UNDP also classifies countries into five groups based on the absolute deviation of their GDI values from gender parity. The GDI captures overall gender disparities in health, education and income but does not directly measure discrimination, participation in decision-making or reproductive health. It should therefore be distinguished from the Gender Inequality Index (GII) and interpreted alongside its individual component indicators.

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Gender Equality

Gender equality refers to a situation in which women, men, girls and boys enjoy equal rights, responsibilities and opportunities, and where access to resources and participation in decision-making are not determined by sex. Equality does not mean that everyone must become the same. Rather, it requires recognizing different needs, interests and starting circumstances, and eliminating discriminatory norms and barriers. In the water sector, gender equality entails equal access to safe drinking water, sanitation, irrigation, financing, knowledge and employment opportunities, as well as equal rights to influence water resources management. It also involves the equitable distribution of unpaid water collection work, risks and benefits associated with water projects. Achieving gender equality requires legal safeguards, gender-responsive measures, sex-disaggregated data, and the meaningful participation of diverse groups in the planning, implementation and monitoring of policies and interventions.

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Gender Equity

Gender equity refers to the principle and process of ensuring fairness in the distribution of rights, resources, responsibilities, opportunities and benefits between women and men, taking into account existing barriers and unequal starting positions. Gender equity does not necessarily entail identical treatment. Addressing historical discrimination may require targeted measures, additional support or differentiated allocation of resources. The aim of such measures is to create the conditions necessary to achieve substantive gender equality. In the water sector, gender equity involves recognizing and addressing different needs in water supply and sanitation, ensuring equitable allocation of irrigation water rights, promoting the participation of women and other underrepresented groups in decision-making, and reducing the burden of unpaid water collection work. In United Nations documents, gender equality is generally the preferred normative term, while equity is regarded as one of the means of achieving equality.

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Gender Gap

Gender gap refers to an identifiable and measurable difference between women and men in a particular area. It may manifest itself in access to rights, resources and services, the distribution of responsibilities and time burdens, participation in decision-making, levels of remuneration and achieved outcomes. Gender gaps can be measured using absolute differences, ratios or composite indices. However, an indicator alone merely identifies a disparity; it does not explain its underlying causes and does not necessarily indicate discrimination. Interpreting gender gaps therefore requires gender analysis that takes into account the influence of social norms and institutions, as well as factors such as age, income, place of residence, disability status and other relevant characteristics. Identifying and measuring gender gaps helps reveal persistent inequalities and assess whether policies and programmes contribute to narrowing them.

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Gender Inequality Index (GII)

Gender Inequality Index (GII) is a composite index developed by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) that measures the loss in potential human development resulting from inequalities between women and men in three dimensions: reproductive health, empowerment and the labour market. It is calculated using five indicators: the maternal mortality ratio and adolescent birth rate; the shares of seats held by women and men in national parliaments; the proportions of women and men with at least some secondary education; and the labour force participation rates of women and men. The index ranges from 0 to 1, with lower values indicating less gender inequality and higher values reflecting greater losses in potential human development due to gender inequality. The GII enables cross-country comparisons and the monitoring of changes over time. However, it does not capture all dimensions of gender inequality, such as disparities in income, unpaid care work, safety or social norms.

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Gender Mainstreaming

Gender mainstreaming is a strategy for systematically integrating a gender perspective into all stages of the development, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of legislation, policies, programmes, budgets and projects. This approach involves assessing the potential impacts of proposed decisions on women and men in advance, taking into account differences in their needs, experiences and opportunities. Its aim is to prevent the perpetuation or exacerbation of existing inequalities. Gender mainstreaming is neither a separate area of work focused exclusively on women nor a substitute for targeted measures to support them. Rather, it involves integrating gender equality considerations into the work of all departments and the responsibilities of all actors involved. In the water sector, gender mainstreaming entails integrating gender considerations into legislation, river basin planning, financing, infrastructure design, water tariff setting, irrigation management and service monitoring. Effective implementation requires sex-disaggregated data, meaningful participation of diverse groups, indicators that capture gender disparities, adequate resources and clearly defined responsibilities.

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Gender Perspective

Gender perspective is an approach to examining social phenomena, policies, programmes or projects that takes into account how gender roles, norms and power relations shape the circumstances, needs and opportunities of women and men. It helps identify who has access to and control over resources, who performs paid and unpaid work, who participates in decision-making, who bears risks and who benefits. Applying a gender perspective goes beyond simply including women in a project. It also recognizes that women and men are not homogeneous groups and that their experiences differ according to age, income, place of residence, disability and other factors. A gender perspective provides a foundation for conducting gender analysis and developing more equitable policies and interventions.

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Gender Quotas

Gender quotas are measures that establish a minimum proportion of women, men or members of an underrepresented sex among candidates, elected representatives, leaders or participants in a particular body or decision-making process. They are used to promote substantive equality where formally equal rules are insufficient to overcome the persistent underrepresentation of certain groups. Quotas may be established by law, adopted voluntarily by organizations or political parties, or implemented through reserved seats. They may apply at the nomination stage, for example by regulating the composition of candidate lists, or to electoral outcomes, by determining the allocation of seats. The effectiveness of quotas depends not only on the prescribed percentage but also on candidate placement rules, selection procedures, monitoring mechanisms and sanctions for non-compliance. Quotas do not override qualification requirements, nor do they automatically ensure equal influence, access to resources or conditions for participation. They are targeted measures designed to address structural imbalances and should be accompanied by broader measures to advance gender equality.

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Gender Roles and Gender Division of Labour

Gender roles refer to socially constructed expectations regarding the responsibilities, behaviours and activities of women and men. Gender division of labour refers to the related allocation of paid and unpaid work between women and men within households, the economy and society. This division determines not only who performs particular tasks, but also how much time is devoted to them, whether they are remunerated, and who controls resources and derives benefits. These patterns vary across societies and social groups and change over time; they are not biologically determined. In the water sector, women and girls are more frequently responsible for water collection and its use for drinking and domestic purposes in many contexts, while men are more commonly involved in infrastructure construction, irrigation and formal water governance. Such divisions can create unequal time burdens and restrict access to education, income-generating opportunities and decision-making. Gender analysis examines responsibilities, time use, access to water, remuneration, control over resources and influence over decisions to ensure that interventions do not reinforce existing gender roles but instead promote a more equitable distribution of work and opportunities.

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Gender Sensitivity

Gender sensitivity refers to the ability to recognize and take into account how gender norms, roles and relations shape people's needs, opportunities, responsibilities, and access to resources and decision-making processes. It involves an awareness of the social and cultural factors underlying gender inequalities, the use of sex-disaggregated data, and consultations with diverse population groups. A gender-sensitive approach recognizes that the same measure may affect different groups differently, while also acknowledging that women and men are not homogeneous groups and do not necessarily share the same experiences.

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Gender Statistics

Gender statistics refer to statistical data that reflect differences and inequalities in the circumstances of women and men across all areas of life. They include, but are not limited to, data collected and presented in a sex-disaggregated format. Gender statistics must address relevant gender issues, be based on concepts and definitions that accurately reflect the circumstances of different population groups, and be produced using methods that avoid gender-related biases. Further disaggregation by age, place of residence, income, disability status and other characteristics makes it possible to identify intersecting dimensions of inequality. In the water sector, gender statistics provide insights into who has access to safe drinking water and sanitation, how much time is spent collecting water, who participates in water resources management, and how water-related responsibilities, risks and benefits are distributed. Gender statistics are essential for the development, monitoring and evaluation of gender-responsive water policies.

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Gender Stereotypes

Gender stereotypes are generalised beliefs about the attributes, abilities, behaviours and social roles ascribed to or expected of women and men on the basis of their sex. They may be descriptive, reflecting assumptions about what women and men are supposedly like, or prescriptive, defining how they should behave and what roles or activities they should undertake. Gender stereotypes are learned through socialisation and reinforced through language, the media, education and everyday practices. They vary across societies and change over time. Stereotypes are not necessarily overtly negative. Even seemingly positive assumptions can restrict individual choices and perpetuate inequalities in the distribution of responsibilities, occupational opportunities, resources and power. A gender stereotype is a belief or expectation, whereas gender bias manifests itself in judgements influenced by such assumptions, and discrimination involves unequal treatment or restrictions on rights.

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Gender-neutral Legislation

Gender-neutral legislation refers to legislation drafted in universal terms that formally establishes the same rules for everyone, regardless of sex. Its provisions generally make no distinction between women and men and do not prescribe different rights, obligations or protective measures.

While such neutrality may eliminate explicit differences in treatment, it does not in itself guarantee substantive equality. Where legislation fails to account for differences in social circumstances, responsibilities, access to resources and power, a seemingly uniform rule may have a disproportionately adverse impact on a particular group and result in indirect discrimination. Gender-neutral legal provisions should therefore be assessed not only in terms of their wording but also in terms of their anticipated and actual impacts. They should be distinguished from gender-sensitive legislation, which takes existing inequalities into account and, where necessary, provides for measures to address them.

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Gender-regressive Legislation

Gender-regressive legislation refers to laws and legislative amendments that repeal or weaken existing protections for gender equality or introduce new restrictions that perpetuate inequalities affecting women and other groups. Such regression may be direct, where a legal provision restricts rights on the basis of sex, or indirect, where a seemingly neutral rule has a disproportionately adverse impact on a particular group. Gender-regressive legislation may affect property and inheritance rights, employment, social protection, participation in decision-making, and access to services and natural resources.

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Gender-responsive Adaptation

Gender-responsive adaptation is an approach to preparing for and adjusting to the impacts of climate change that takes into account differences in the needs, responsibilities, resources, and capacities of women and men. It is particularly important in the context of droughts, floods, deteriorating water quality, and disruptions to water supply. Such events can increase the burden of water collection and unpaid care work, exacerbate health risks, and heighten economic vulnerability. Gender-responsive adaptation involves the equitable participation of affected groups in decision-making, the use of data disaggregated by sex and other relevant characteristics, and equitable access to finance, information, technologies, and infrastructure. Its aim is not only to reduce climate-related risks but also to ensure that adaptation measures do not perpetuate existing inequalities and, wherever possible, contribute to addressing them.

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Gender-responsive Approach

Gender-responsive approach refers to an approach to the design and implementation of policies, programmes or projects that takes into account differences in the circumstances, needs, responsibilities and opportunities of women and men, and incorporates measures to reduce gender inequalities. It goes beyond simply recognizing existing gender differences and involves concrete action to ensure equitable access to resources and services, remove barriers to participation in decision-making, promote the equitable distribution of responsibilities, and address the differential impacts of policies and interventions on women and men. Unlike a gender-sensitive approach, which primarily focuses on identifying and taking gender differences into account, a gender-responsive approach entails implementing specific measures to address those differences.

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Gender-responsive Budgeting

Gender-responsive budgeting is an approach to the formulation, execution, monitoring and evaluation of national and local government budgets that examines how public revenue and expenditure affect women, men and different social groups. It does not entail creating a separate "women's budget", nor is it simply about increasing spending on women. Rather, its purpose is to integrate gender equality objectives into budgetary decision-making by identifying inequalities in access to services and resources, adjusting programmes, establishing performance indicators and ensuring adequate funding. In the water sector, gender-responsive budgeting makes it possible to assess whether allocations for water supply, sanitation, irrigation and climate change adaptation adequately address differences in needs, unpaid work burdens, safety concerns and participation in decision-making. Effective gender-responsive budgeting encompasses the entire budget cycle, draws on gender analysis and data disaggregated by sex and other relevant characteristics, and provides for the participation of affected groups and accountability for results.

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Gender-responsive Indicators

Gender-responsive indicators are quantitative or qualitative measures designed to track progress towards gender equality and assess how policies, programmes or projects affect women and men. Developed on the basis of gender analysis, these indicators capture not only the numbers of women and men but also differences in access to resources, the distribution of responsibilities and time, participation in decision-making, control over resources, benefits received and exposure to risks. Data for these indicators are generally disaggregated by sex, age, place of residence, disability status and other relevant characteristics. Gender-responsive indicators make it possible to compare baseline conditions with achieved results, identify persistent gender gaps and adjust interventions to advance gender equality.

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Gender-responsive Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM)

Gender-responsive integrated water resources management (IWRM) is an approach to the coordinated management of water, land and related resources that takes into account differences in the needs, roles, knowledge, access to resources and ability to influence decision-making among women, men and diverse social groups. Gender considerations are integrated at every stage, from situation analysis and the development of legislation, river basin management plans and budgets to their implementation, monitoring and evaluation. This approach entails the collection of data disaggregated by sex and other relevant characteristics, meaningful participation of affected groups, the removal of institutional and social barriers, equitable access to water, financing, technologies and associated benefits, and the protection of vital ecosystems.

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Gender-responsive Procurement

Gender-responsive procurement is an approach to procuring goods, services and works that takes into account their impact on gender equality and women's empowerment throughout the procurement cycle. It involves removing barriers faced by women-owned and women-led businesses, applying transparent and proportionate procurement requirements, and assessing suppliers' gender equality policies, working conditions and supply chains. This approach goes beyond purchasing exclusively from women-owned businesses. It also considers whether the goods procured or infrastructure developed meet the needs of different user groups. In the water sector, gender-responsive procurement helps ensure that water supply and sanitation systems are designed and procured to be safe, accessible and responsive to users' needs. Procurement criteria must comply with applicable legislation, be relevant to the subject matter of the procurement and be objectively verifiable.

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Gender-responsive Transboundary Water Cooperation

Gender-responsive transboundary water cooperation refers to cooperation among States and other stakeholders in the management of shared rivers, lakes and aquifers that takes into account differences in needs, rights, knowledge, exposure to risks and influence over decision-making. It involves the use of gender-relevant data, the meaningful participation of women and underrepresented groups in transboundary basin organisations, consultations and water diplomacy, and the equitable sharing of benefits and risks. Participation should extend beyond the national level to include local communities, particularly those who rely on water for drinking and irrigation. This approach enhances transparency, builds trust and contributes to more resilient water management decisions, particularly in the face of water scarcity, pollution and climate-related risks.

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Gender-responsive WASH

Gender-responsive water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) is an approach to planning and delivering WASH services that is informed by an analysis of gender roles, needs, barriers and power relations. It involves collecting disaggregated data, ensuring the meaningful participation of affected groups, and implementing targeted measures to reduce the burden of water collection, provide safe and accessible sanitation facilities, and promote equal participation of women and men in WASH service management. This approach assesses not only the number of women and men reached by WASH interventions but also changes in access to services, time burdens, safety, control over resources and influence over decision-making. Gender-responsive WASH can improve service delivery and advance gender equality, while gender-transformative WASH goes a step further by seeking to change discriminatory gender norms and unequal power relations.

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Gender-responsive Water Governance

Gender-responsive water governance refers to a system of rules, institutions and decision-making processes governing the allocation, use, protection and financing of water resources that seeks to identify and address gender inequalities. This approach encompasses gender analysis of legislation, river basin management plans, water tariffs and budgets, the use of gender-relevant data, and clearly defined institutional responsibilities. It ensures not only the representation of women and underrepresented groups but also their meaningful influence on decision-making, as well as equitable access to information, water rights, financing and benefits. Outcomes are assessed in terms of how power, resources, responsibilities, risks and benefits are distributed, as well as the accountability of water governance institutions.

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Gender-transformative Approach

Gender-transformative approach is an approach to the design of policies, programmes and projects that goes beyond recognizing differences between women and men to deliberately address the root causes of gender inequality. It seeks to identify and challenge discriminatory gender norms, unequal power relations, the inequitable distribution of resources and unpaid work, and institutional rules that restrict participation and individual choice. This approach involves empowering underrepresented groups, engaging women and men in critically examining gender roles, and transforming laws, practices and decision-making structures. Its aim is to bring about lasting changes in the relationships and systems that shape gender inequality, thereby advancing sustainable gender equality.

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Glass Ceiling

Glass ceiling is a metaphor for invisible, predominantly informal barriers that prevent women from advancing to senior leadership positions and participating in decision-making, even in the absence of explicit prohibitions or formally discriminatory rules. Such barriers may stem from gender stereotypes, biased performance evaluation and promotion criteria, exclusionary professional networks, opaque leadership selection processes and the unequal distribution of caregiving responsibilities. The term “glass” conveys the impression that senior positions are accessible, although advancement to them is effectively restricted, while “ceiling” refers to the barriers encountered at the highest levels of career progression.

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H

Human Development Index (HDI)

Human Development Index (HDI) is a composite index developed by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) that measures a country's average achievements in three basic dimensions of human development: a long and healthy life, knowledge and a decent standard of living. The HDI is calculated as the geometric mean of normalised indices for these three dimensions. The health dimension is measured by life expectancy at birth; the education dimension by mean years of schooling for adults and expected years of schooling for children; and the standard of living dimension by gross national income (GNI) per capita. The HDI ranges from 0 to 1, with higher values indicating higher average levels of human development. However, the HDI does not capture disparities within countries, including gender inequalities. These are assessed using complementary measures such as the Inequality-adjusted Human Development Index (IHDI), the Gender Development Index (GDI) and the Gender Inequality Index (GII). Access to water and sanitation is not directly included among the HDI indicators, although it influences health and educational outcomes.

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Human Rights; Women’s Rights; Human Rights to Safe Drinking Water and Sanitation

Human rights are inherent and universal rights and freedoms to which every person is entitled, regardless of sex or any other characteristic. They encompass civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights and are founded on the principles of human dignity, equality and non-discrimination. Women’s rights are not a separate category of rights; rather, they are human rights considered in the context of historical and systemic discrimination that has prevented women from enjoying and exercising their rights on an equal basis with men. States are therefore obliged not only to guarantee formal equality before the law but also to eliminate barriers to substantive equality in practice. The human rights to safe drinking water and sanitation are distinct but interrelated rights that require water and sanitation services to be sufficiently available, physically accessible, affordable, safe, acceptable and provided without discrimination.

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I

Inclusive WASH

Inclusive water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) is an approach to the planning and delivery of WASH services that ensures everyone can access and use them safely, with dignity and independently, regardless of sex, age, disability, income, place of residence or other characteristics. Rather than applying uniform solutions to everyone, this approach focuses on identifying and removing physical, informational, financial, institutional and social barriers. This requires ensuring the accessibility of WASH facilities and information, the safety and privacy of sanitation facilities, adequate conditions for maintaining personal hygiene, and the meaningful participation of affected groups in decision-making. The gender dimension of inclusive WASH involves addressing the needs of women, men, girls and boys, reducing the burden of water collection, and ensuring women's meaningful participation in WASH service management. This approach is underpinned by data disaggregated by relevant characteristics, the principle of non-discrimination, meaningful participation and effective feedback mechanisms.

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Intersectionality

Intersectionality is an analytical approach that examines how sex and gender intersect with age, disability, income level, ethnicity, migration status, place of residence and other factors to shape individuals' circumstances and lived experiences. The interaction of these factors can give rise to distinct forms of inequality and discrimination that cannot be explained by any single characteristic alone. Women, like men, are therefore not a homogeneous group, and the same policies or interventions may affect different population groups in different ways. Intersectional analysis involves using data disaggregated by relevant characteristics, ensuring the meaningful participation of affected groups, and assessing who has access to resources, services and decision-making processes and who is excluded. In the water sector, such analysis helps identify and address the specific barriers faced by groups such as low-income rural women, women with disabilities and migrant women in accessing water and sanitation services and participating in water governance.

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L

Leave No One Behind (LNOB)

Leave no one behind (LNOB) is one of the fundamental principles of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. It means that the benefits of development should reach everyone, with priority given to those who are furthest behind. Implementing this principle requires going beyond improvements in aggregate indicators to identify groups facing discrimination, poverty, social exclusion and unequal access to resources and services. This calls for data disaggregated by relevant characteristics, the meaningful participation of disadvantaged groups, and an assessment of who actually benefits from development opportunities and services and who remains excluded. The gender dimension of the LNOB principle recognises that the circumstances of women and men vary according to age, income, disability status, place of residence and other factors, and that certain groups face distinct barriers.

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M

Masculinity

Masculinity refers to the socially constructed norms, roles, behaviours and attributes associated with men and boys in a particular society. Masculinity is not synonymous with biological sex, nor is it fixed or immutable. Expectations of what constitutes appropriate masculine behaviour vary across cultures, generations and social groups. It is therefore more accurate to speak of multiple masculinities. Some forms of masculinity emphasise responsibility, care and equality, while rigid notions of manhood based on dominance, emotional restraint and exclusive decision-making authority can have negative consequences for both women and men and hinder progress towards gender equality.

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Matriarchy

Matriarchy is a form of social organisation in which women, particularly mothers or senior women, occupy a central position in the distribution and exercise of social, economic and political power. There is no universally accepted scholarly definition of matriarchy. In its narrower sense, the term refers to a social system characterised by the predominance of female authority. In some contemporary anthropological scholarship, however, it describes a society organised around maternal descent and the prominent role of women, without necessarily implying the subordination of men. Matriarchy should not be confused with matrilineality, in which descent and group membership are traced through the maternal line; matrilocality, in which married couples reside with or near the woman's family; or matrifocality, in which the mother occupies a central position within the family. None of these characteristics, taken individually, is sufficient to establish the existence of a matriarchal social system. The notion of matriarchy as a universal prehistoric stage of societal development is not supported by contemporary anthropological evidence.

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Meaningful and Inclusive Participation

Meaningful and inclusive participation is a process that enables all those affected by decisions, particularly women and groups experiencing multiple forms of discrimination, to influence the formulation, adoption, implementation and evaluation of those decisions. Meaningful participation goes beyond mere attendance at meetings or formal consultations. It requires that participants receive timely, comprehensive and accessible information, are able to express their views freely, and have their input duly considered and reflected in the final outcomes. Inclusive participation involves identifying and removing legal, financial, linguistic, physical, digital and social barriers, providing information in accessible formats, and creating safe and enabling conditions for participation. Assessing meaningful and inclusive participation requires consideration not only of the number and composition of participants but also of their actual influence on decision-making, access to resources and ability to hold governing bodies accountable.

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Migration; Feminisation of Migration

Migration refers to the movement of people away from their place of usual residence, either within a country or across an international border, regardless of the reasons for migration, its duration or the legal status of those involved. Feminisation of migration refers to the growing role of women in migration processes, particularly the increasing number of women who make independent decisions to migrate for employment and act as economic agents in their own right, rather than merely accompanying family members. The concept reflects not only changes in the proportion of women among migrants but also shifts in migration patterns, women's participation in employment and their position within the household.

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Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)

Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) were eight global development goals derived from the United Nations Millennium Declaration, adopted in 2000, with a target date of 2015. They addressed the eradication of extreme poverty and hunger, universal primary education, gender equality and women's empowerment, reduction of child mortality, improvement of maternal health, combating HIV/AIDS and other diseases, environmental sustainability, and global partnership for development. Goal 3, "Promote Gender Equality and Empower Women," was particularly significant for the gender equality agenda, although gender inequalities also affected progress towards the other goals. The MDGs established specific targets, indicators and deadlines that enabled progress to be monitored. However, gender equality was measured primarily through indicators relating to education, employment and women's representation in national parliaments, leaving many dimensions of gender inequality outside the monitoring framework. The MDG framework concluded in 2015 and was succeeded by the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

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P

Practical Gender Needs

Practical gender needs are immediate needs arising from specific living conditions and the existing division of roles and responsibilities between women and men. Meeting these needs can improve everyday living conditions but does not, in itself, generally challenge the prevailing division of labour, power relations or control over resources. For example, installing a piped water supply system can reduce women's domestic workload but does not necessarily challenge the assumption that providing water for the household is primarily their responsibility. Addressing practical gender needs should therefore be combined with efforts to meet strategic gender needs, including ensuring equal participation in decision-making, promoting a more equitable distribution of responsibilities, and strengthening women's empowerment and control over water resources.

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S

Safety, Privacy and Dignity in WASH

Safety, privacy and dignity in water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) refer to the ability of individuals to access water and maintain personal hygiene in conditions that ensure their safety, privacy and dignity, without risk of injury, humiliation or intrusion into their personal space. To achieve this, WASH facilities must be located in safe areas, adequately lit, accessible to persons with disabilities, and provide separate facilities where necessary. They must also be equipped with doors and functioning locks, water, hygiene supplies, and appropriate waste disposal facilities. These requirements apply to all users, including children and older persons, and must be taken into account in the design, operation and monitoring of WASH services.

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Sex

Sex refers to the biological and physiological characteristics of individuals, including chromosomes, gene expression, hormonal characteristics, reproductive anatomy and secondary sexual characteristics. Sex should be distinguished from gender, which refers to socially constructed norms, roles and relationships. In statistics, sex-disaggregated data make it possible to identify differences between population groups. However, such data do not, in themselves, explain the social factors underlying these differences and should therefore be complemented by gender analysis and further disaggregation by age, disability status, place of residence and other relevant characteristics.

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Sex-disaggregated Data

Sex-disaggregated data are data on individuals that are collected and presented separately for women and men, and, in the case of children, for girls and boys. Such disaggregation makes it possible to compare the circumstances of different groups and identify disparities in access to resources and services, time use, employment, income, participation and policy outcomes. Where possible, data should be further disaggregated by age, disability status, place of residence, income level and other relevant characteristics to ensure that differences within each group are not obscured. Sex-disaggregated data provide an essential foundation for gender analysis but do not, in themselves, explain the underlying causes of observed disparities. They should not be equated with gender statistics, which also require the use of gender-sensitive concepts, data collection methods and approaches to interpretation.

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Sexism

Sexism refers to acts, statements, images, practices or institutional decisions based on the belief that an individual or group is inferior because of their sex. Sexism is rooted in gender stereotypes and unequal power relations and may be overt or subtle, conscious or unconscious. It can affect both women and men. However, in the context of existing inequalities, sexism disproportionately targets women and girls and has more severe consequences for them. Sexism manifests itself in derogatory remarks, the undervaluation of professional competence, exclusion from decision-making, discriminatory rules and the disproportionate allocation of unpaid work to women. Combating sexism requires changes not only in individual behaviour but also in social norms, established procedures and institutional practices.

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Strategic Gender Interests

Strategic gender interests are long-term interests concerned less with the immediate living conditions of women and men than with their position in society, access to power and resources, and ability to participate in decision-making. These interests vary according to the social context and seek to transform the norms and power relations that perpetuate gender inequality. Strategic gender interests include equal rights to land and inheritance, equal pay, protection against discrimination, equal participation in governance, and control over resources. Unlike meeting practical gender needs, addressing strategic gender interests brings about changes not only in everyday living conditions but also in the position of women and men within existing gender relations.

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Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are 17 interconnected global goals and 169 targets adopted by United Nations Member States in 2015 as part of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. They encompass the social, economic and environmental dimensions of development, including poverty eradication, health, education, equality, decent work, reducing inequalities, environmental protection, peace and international cooperation. The SDGs are universal, meaning that they apply to all countries regardless of income level. Their central commitment is to leave no one behind, placing particular emphasis on the circumstances of groups experiencing discrimination and exclusion. Goal 5, "Achieve Gender Equality and Empower All Women and Girls," specifically addresses gender equality, although progress towards gender equality is closely linked to the achievement of all 17 goals. Compared with the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), the SDGs have a broader scope and emphasise the interdependence of different dimensions of sustainable development.

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T

Time Poverty

Time poverty refers to a situation in which the combined demands of paid employment, unpaid care work and domestic responsibilities leave individuals with insufficient time for rest, education, participation in community life and other activities of their choice. Time poverty is shaped by the distribution of responsibilities, the availability of infrastructure and services, working conditions and prevailing social norms. It has a pronounced gender dimension, as women and girls typically bear a disproportionate share of unpaid work. In the water sector, time poverty is exacerbated when water must be collected from distant sources, while inadequate access to safe water supply and sanitation increases the burden of domestic and caregiving responsibilities. Time poverty is assessed through time-use surveys that capture both paid and unpaid work. It can be reduced by improving access to water supply and care services and promoting a more equitable distribution of household responsibilities.

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Tokenism

Tokenism refers to the practice of including one or a small number of representatives from an underrepresented group in a largely symbolic or superficial manner, creating an appearance of equality without changing the distribution of power, resources or influence. In the context of gender equality, tokenism occurs when a woman is appointed to a committee, invited to participate in discussions or included in a leadership body primarily to fulfil reporting requirements, comply with quotas or enhance an organisation's public image. In such cases, she may be denied timely access to information, voting rights, adequate resources or meaningful opportunities to influence final decisions. She may also be expected to represent the interests of all women. However, the mere presence of a small number of women does not necessarily constitute tokenism. The defining characteristic is the gap between formal representation and meaningful influence.

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Twin-track Approach to Gender Equality

Twin-track approach to gender equality is a strategy that combines two complementary and mutually reinforcing components. The first is gender mainstreaming, which involves systematically integrating a gender perspective into the formulation, financing, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of all legislation, policies, programmes and projects. The second consists of targeted interventions designed to address specific gender gaps, discriminatory barriers and inequalities in the distribution of resources, opportunities and decision-making power. These may include measures to increase women's participation, strengthen their capacities or improve their access to services. Both components are necessary and should be pursued simultaneously. Gender mainstreaming alone may not be sufficient to address entrenched inequalities, while stand-alone targeted interventions may leave broader institutional structures and systemic barriers unchanged.

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U

UN Women

UN Women (the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women) is the leading United Nations entity dedicated to advancing gender equality and the rights and empowerment of women and girls. Established by the United Nations General Assembly in 2010 through the merger of four previously existing UN entities, UN Women has a threefold mandate encompassing three interrelated functions: supporting the development of international norms and standards, implementing programmes at the country level, and coordinating the UN system's work on gender equality. Its main areas of work include women's leadership and participation in decision-making, women's economic empowerment and rights, women, peace and security, and humanitarian action.

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Unpaid Care and Domestic Work

Unpaid care and domestic work refers to activities performed without direct remuneration that are essential to the daily functioning of households and communities. It includes caring for children, older persons and people who are ill, preparing meals, cleaning, doing laundry, collecting water and fuel, and performing other domestic tasks. In many societies, women and girls bear a disproportionate share of this work, limiting their opportunities for education, paid employment, rest and participation in decision-making. Reliable and accessible water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) services can help reduce this burden. However, achieving lasting gender equality also requires unpaid care and domestic work to be recognised, reduced and redistributed more equitably between women and men.

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W

Water Collection Burden

Water collection burden refers to the time-related, physical and social costs associated with collecting water for drinking and domestic use from sources located outside the home. It encompasses travel to and from water sources, queuing, filling and carrying water containers, and making repeated trips throughout the day. The burden of water collection has a significant gender dimension, as women and girls are primarily responsible for this task in many households. Consequently, they have less time for education, paid employment, rest and participation in community life, while travelling long distances and carrying heavy water containers increase health and safety risks. The extent of this burden depends on the distance to the water source, its reliability, waiting times, water quality, access to transport and the frequency of water collection trips. Providing access to safe drinking water within the home and promoting a more equitable distribution of household responsibilities can help reduce this burden.

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Water Security

Water security refers to the capacity of a population to safeguard sustainable access to adequate quantities of water of acceptable quality to sustain health, human well-being, livelihoods and economic development, while ensuring protection against pollution, droughts, floods and other water-related risks, and preserving aquatic ecosystems.

Gender analysis helps reveal disparities that may be obscured by aggregate indicators. Women, men and people from different social groups may have unequal access to reliable water sources, information, financing and water governance institutions. Achieving water security therefore requires that the needs of diverse population groups be taken into account in decision-making, that water-related responsibilities and risks be distributed equitably, and that all stakeholders have equal opportunities to participate in decisions concerning water use and management.

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Women’s Empowerment

Women’s empowerment is the process through which women strengthen their capacity to define their own life goals, make strategic choices and influence decisions that affect their lives. It encompasses awareness of their rights and self-worth, access to and control over opportunities and resources, participation in decision-making, and the transformation of norms, institutions and power relations that perpetuate inequality.

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