Mar 2024 – Rural Water Supply Network

Guiding the future of STEM: empowering African women through mentorship

This blog is written by Mercy Hinga, a Water and Sanitation Engineer.

Photo: Attending the International Water Association Sanitation Conference and Expo. Photo Credit: Merch Hinga, 2023

In the dynamic realm of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM), mentorship stands as a powerful catalyst in propelling the aspirations of Kenyan women in the water sector towards attaining Sustainable Development Goal 6 (SDG6) – safe water and sanitation for all. Across the continent, where opportunities in the sector remain uneven, mentoring emerges as a beacon of hope, connecting emerging talents with seasoned professionals towards increasing skilled and diverse talent in the water sector.

A significant challenge faced by African women in STEM within the water and sanitation sector is the scarcity of role models and avenues for skill development. Imagine being a young engineer without a senior female mentor to turn to for guidance? This absence profoundly impacts motivation and career aspirations. This encounter motivated me to coordinate numerous meetings connecting a senior female engineer with my fellow graduate female colleagues, offering a platform for connection, guidance, and access to resources that would otherwise remain out of reach.

The impact of mentorship extends beyond personal growth; it shapes the future of STEM in Africa and communities at large. Drawing from personal experience in the Rural Water Supply Network (RWSN) mentorship program, my trajectory was transformed. This mentorship not only encouraged further education but also led to the prestigious Chevening Scholarship, shaping my career advancement. Furthermore, participating in the mentorship project Mentoring future women graduates in STEM in Africa implemented by the University of Plymouth and funded by the Royal Academy of Engineering (RAE) has played a crucial role in shaping my career aspirations in leadership and management. This has been achieved through engaging sessions with my mentor and fellow participants in the program.

While there has been tremendous improvement in the inclusion of women in water utilities, consulting firms, research institutions, and NGOs, it’s crucial to acknowledge that the glass ceiling has not yet been shattered. For instance, less than one in five water workers are women, according to new research by the World Bank’s Water Global Practice. Women are also underrepresented in technical and managerial positions where, in sampled utilities, on average only 23 percent of licensed engineers are women. This is contributing to an ongoing deficiency in the representation of women in both the expansion and leadership aspects of the field. More women need to secure seats at the table where decisions are made to ensure that diverse perspectives shape the future of the water and sanitation sector.

Mentorship plays a pivotal role in breaking barriers, extending its reach from low cadres to mid-level and management positions. To truly shatter the glass ceiling, mentorship programs should not only focus on professional development but also advocate for a conducive work-life balance. It is essential to empower women to enjoy what they do in the sector, fostering an environment where their contributions are not only recognized but also celebrated.

In my opinion, mentorship initiatives should extend beyond traditional hierarchies, creating networks where women can learn from each other at all levels. Establishing women’s networks within the sector provides a platform for sharing experiences, insights, and strategies to navigate challenges. These networks become invaluable sources of support, fostering a sense of community and mutual empowerment.

In conclusion, let us recognize mentorship as a powerful catalyst propelling African women’s engagement and success in the water and sanitation sector. Just as the proverb “it takes a village to raise a child” signifies collective support in nurturing future generations, supporting African women in the water and sanitation sector demands a collective effort. I believe that it is crucial for existing systems to champion and support the talents of women in STEM, fostering an environment where their contributions are not just acknowledged but celebrated, driving progress and innovation in these critical fields.

Mercy Hinga is a Water and Sanitation Engineer specializing in WASH Projects business models and financing. She is also a mentee with the Mentoring future women graduates in STEM in Africa project by the University of Plymouth and funded by Royal Engineering Academy UK.

Inspire inclusion through mentorship: a collaboration between RWSN and Agenda for Change

Image: An inspiring group of women water and sanitation professionals captured during World Water Week 2023 (L to R): Jane Nabunnya, Bethlehem Mengistu, Helen Pankhurst, Kate Harawa, Alec Shannon, Irene Gai, and Tara Bartnik.

The water and sanitation sectors have historically been male-dominated due to embedded gender and social norms, thereby restricting women’s study and employment in these fields. The lack of women role models has further contributed to the prevalence of men in technical and decision-making roles. While progress has been made in recent years, achieving gender parity in these sectors remains a challenge.

Gender disparities are especially pronounced in leadership roles within water-related career opportunities, such as utilities, ministries, and senior roles in non-governmental institutions. A World Bank study from 2019 conveyed that only 18% of their workers from 64 water and sanitation service providers worldwide were women, and only 23% of engineers and managers in a utility were female. These disparities start at the university level, which is why encouraging more girls to study science, technology, engineering, and mathematics related topics is crucial for untapped talent for the water and WASH sectors.

This is also where mentorship emerges as an effective strategy to help close this gender gap, since it enables professional development, equipping women with the skills required to navigate systemic barriers and collectively level the playing field. As a global network, RWSN has supported an annual mentoring scheme for young water professionals since 2019. This year, we are teaming up with Agenda for Change to offer both a general mentoring track and one specifically for women water and sanitation professionals, encompassing mentors and mentees at any career stage.

Mentorship benefits both mentors and mentees, fostering a win-win situation. The mentor’s role includes active listening skills, offering empathetic understanding to your mentee, and providing clarity on their personal and professional objectives. This dedicated focus on another’s journey fosters personal and professional growth, as seen in the example questions mentees bring (below), ranging from career paths to organizational decisions:

Does the student finishing her PhD really want a career in international development or will she achieve much more in her own country?
Should the mid-career consultant take over the retiring boss’s company or step away from water consulting completely?
How should an NGO manager rebuild and refocus the organisation after COVID?

Sponsorship complements mentorship. While mentorship enhances skills, provides guidance, and offers coaching, sponsorship goes further. The mentor becomes the mentee’s advocate, facilitating connections, and acts as an amplifier. This external facing aspect is equally vital and boosts the mentees access to opportunities.

On Women’s Day (and everyday), it is important that senior women not hinder the progress of those following in their career footsteps. Equally, for men to be subtle champions for women, fostering respect and an openness to learn about invisible barriers they may face. Ultimately, collaborative efforts between genders will continue to ensure continuous flow of talent that benefits us all.

Happy International Women’s Day!

We are thrilled to announce our joint RWSN and Agenda for Change mentorship program in 2024! Applications will open on 14 March 2024.

This year’s programme features three tracks:

Women in WASH (for women only – with traditional and near-peer mentoring tracks)
Career Progression (for young professionals of both genders)
Solar pumping and groundwater courses alumni (by invitation)

Find more details on the eligibility criteria and on how to apply here: RWSN Mentoring programme – Rural Water Supply Network and here: Agenda for Change Women in WASH mentorship program.

Rural Water Point Functionality: Evidence From Nine Countries in Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia

by Dr Anna Murray, Deputy Director of Research, The Aquaya Institute

The sustainability of drinking water supply infrastructure remains a challenge in rural areas of low-and middle-income countries. Through this research to identify factors contributing to functionality, we analyzed monitoring data from ten non-governmental organization drinking water supply programs across nine sub-Saharan African and South Asian countries. Data were from 1,805 randomly selected water points, including tap stands, spring protections, rainwater collection systems, and hand pumps.

We found an impressive 92% of sampled water points constructed within the prior year were functional, versus only 79% of those constructed earlier (average 3.5 years, range: 1–12 years old).

Tap stands from piped water systems exhibited 74% lower odds of functioning than boreholes with hand pumps within the older construction sample. This disparity underscores the necessity of considering the suitability and reliability of various water supply systems in rural contexts.

As global efforts to expand piped water services align with international development goals, our results advocate for a nuanced approach. Higher water service levels offer undeniable benefits, but the accompanying technological, institutional, and financial requirements must be carefully weighed. Particularly in rural settings, where challenges of limited resources and infrastructure maintenance persist, comprehensive strategies are essential to mitigate risks and maximize the effectiveness of water supply interventions.

Read the full Open Access paper here:

Murray, A. L., Stone, G., Yang, A. R., Lawrence, N. F., Matthews, H., & Kayser, G. L. (2024). Rural water point functionality estimates and associations: Evidence from nine countries in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia. Water Resources Research, 60, e2023WR034679. https://doi.org/10.1029/2023WR034679

The dataset is available here.

Photo: An abandoned tap stand. Credit: A. Murray