International Women’s Day: Namibia’s leadership is a global model for gender equality

In commemoration of International Women’s Day on 8 March

As the world marks International Women’s Day on 8 March under the theme “Rights. Justice. Action. For ALL Women and Girls,” the Global Water Partnership underscores the importance of advancing gender equality in water governance and investment. 

GWP does so at a defining moment. In October 2025, H.E. Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, President of the Republic of Namibia, accepted the role of GWP’s Global Champion for Gender Equality, dedicated to promoting gender-transformative water investments worldwide. The role reinforces Namibia’s leadership in advancing gender equality in water and climate investment. In February 2026, on the margins of the African Union Summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, the President announced that Namibia will host the headquarters of the Global Water Partnership Organisation (GWPO). 

While women play central roles in water management in households and communities, they remain underrepresented in water decision-making. According to 2025 data compiled by UNEP-DHI, GWP and UN Women, around 14% of countries still have no mechanisms in place to ensure women’s equal participation in water-related decision-making and management. 

Read the policy note: Mainstreaming gender equality in water – Global status and 7 pathways to progress 

As H.E. President Nandi-Ndaitwah stated when accepting her role as GWP’s Global Champion for Gender Equality: 

“Gender equality is not only about fairness – it is about transforming systems to unlock innovation, productivity, and resilience. Water is an enabler of inclusive economic growth.” 

Namibia also stands out globally as the only country where women hold the three highest offices of state – President, Vice President and Speaker of Parliament. Additional key positions, such as Namibia’s Finance Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, are also served by women in a Cabinet held by 57% women, according to The Namibian.

GWP’s work in this area build on more than a decade of experience advancing gender-transformative water investments, including:  

• The Green Climate Fund (GCF) funded AIP-GCF Readiness project, GWP has assisted governments in designing climate-resilient, gender-responsive water projects across Africa. 

• Long-standing collaborations with Sida (Sweden), the Government of the Netherlands, and the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) which have strengthened institutional capacity to climate resilience WASH and mainstreamed gender and inclusion at every level of water governance. 

As the global water community looks ahead to World Water Day on 22 March, under the theme “Where water flows, equality grows,” the importance of women’s leadership and participation in water governance and investment decisions continues to gain global attention. 

On International Women’s Day, GWP reiterates a message that continues to guide its work: 

Investing in women. Investing in water.