Water Privatisation Deepens Gender Inequality in Africa — OWORAC Raises Alarm on World Water Day

 

By oluwaseyi fadoro 

The Our Water, Our Right Africa Coalition (OWORAC) has called on African governments to reject water privatisation, warning that it worsens inequality and disproportionately harms women and girls across the continent.

In a statement marking this year’s World Water Day themed “Water and Gender,” the coalition emphasised that access to safe water remains a critical issue, with gender disparities at the heart of the crisis.

OWORAC, a network of civil society organisations, trade unions, and community groups, argued that corporate control of water systems undermines both water justice and gender equality. According to the group, privatisation often prioritises profit over public welfare, making water less accessible and affordable for vulnerable populations.

“Across Africa, women and girls pay the highest price when governments relinquish public water systems to private interests,” said Fatou Diouf of the Senegalese Water Justice Network. She noted that experiences worldwide show private operators tend to prioritise financial returns, turning a basic human right into a commodity while deepening existing inequalities.

The coalition highlighted the disproportionate burden on women and girls, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa, where they collectively spend about 200 million hours daily fetching water. This, OWORAC said, represents lost opportunities for education, economic participation, and personal safety.

Citing concerns from global development experts, the group noted that the time spent collecting water continues to limit the potential of millions of girls. “Every step a girl takes to collect water is a step away from learning, playing, and safety,” said Cecilia Sharp of UNICEF.

OWORAC also expressed concern over developments in Zimbabwe, where authorities are reportedly considering scrapping the Zimbabwe Gender Commission while advancing plans to privatise water services. The coalition warned that dismantling such an institution could weaken advocacy for women and further marginalise vulnerable communities in policy decisions.

The group criticised the growing push for privatisation and so-called public-private partnerships, describing them as “false solutions” that risk increasing water costs, reducing accountability, and exposing workers to poor conditions.

It also faulted the involvement of private water industry lobby groups such as AquaFed—representing major corporations like Veolia and Suez—in global water policy discussions, arguing that such actors should be held accountable rather than included in decision-making platforms.

Reiterating its demands, OWORAC urged governments to invest in publicly funded and democratically managed water systems, ensure transparency in policy decisions, and prioritise community participation.

The coalition stressed that women must be placed at the centre of water governance to prevent further inequality and ensure equitable access to this essential resource.

The statement was endorsed by organisations across Africa, including groups from Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, Sierra Leone, Senegal, and Zimbabwe, as well as international partners.