On April 23, 2025, the ONEPlanET project hosted a timely webinar focused on gender dynamics within the Water-Energy-Food (WEF) Nexus. The discussion brought attention to the often overlooked but critical role that women play in managing natural resources, particularly in rural communities across Africa.
Panelists underscored how women are at the heart of day-to-day resource use—leading efforts in water collection, small-scale farming, and household energy management. Despite their deep involvement, women’s contributions remain undervalued, largely due to persistent structural barriers. These include limited access to land ownership, financial resources, leadership roles, and formal decision-making platforms.
Such inequities not only undermine women’s potential but also limit the effectiveness of broader sustainability efforts. Empowering women and ensuring their full participation in governance and policy processes is essential for building more inclusive, resilient systems.
The webinar also highlighted encouraging examples of change, showcasing individuals and organizations working to dismantle these barriers and integrate gender perspectives into WEF governance. Their work reinforces a growing consensus: meaningful progress on sustainable development cannot be achieved without addressing gender inequality.
As ONEPlanET continues to advance policy and technical innovations in the WEF space, embedding gender equity in all stages of planning and implementation will be key to delivering just and lasting solutions for communities across the continent.