Gender Equality, Disability, and Social Inclusion
We have a societal responsibility to ensure that vulnerable and disadvantaged groups are included and accounted for in water allocation and management processes and outcomes. This priority is intrinsic in the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 6, which is to “Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all”.
The Australian Water Partnership (AWP) recognises that the integration of Gender Equality, Disability and Social Inclusion (GEDSI) in its activities will lead to more equitable and sustainable outcomes. For this to be realised for all people, it is necessary to address GEDSI throughout our work to improve water governance, policies, strategies and service delivery in Australia and the region. The AWP has an established GEDSI Policy (2019-2023) and a resource document, Addressing Gender Equality and Social Inclusion in AWP concepts, proposals and tenders: Guidance for Partners, which assists partners in considering GEDSI components for activity submissions and implementation. In line with the policy, AWP strives to support partners in their capacity to consider and include GEDSI in their work.
The AWP Strategic Plan (2023–2028) reinforces AWP’s commitment to value and promote inclusion and diversity by prioritising the most poor and vulnerable. It recognises GEDSI as a key strategic direction and cross-cutting issue across all our activities. This is consistent with the commitment outlined in Australia’s new International Development Policy to support specific gender equality, disability equity and rights initiatives and ensure all development programs contribute to these elements. It also reinstates a target for 80 per cent of all development investments to address gender equality effectively and the requirement for new investments of more than $3 million to include gender equality objectives. AWP’s strategic priority is to shift towards a more human rights- based approach and ensure that the principle of ‘leaving no one behind’ is implemented across AWP’s portfolio of work in the region.
Training
AWP Gender Equality, Disability and Social Inclusion Training – Part 1
Workshop Part 1 slides (PDF 3.3mb)
Workshop summary – Part 1 & 2 (PDF 1.6mb)
This virtual workshop aims to build AWP partner capability in developing proposals that address GEDSI and to improve the GEDSI outcomes of AWP activities through use of case studies, resources and tools. The training has a specific focus on disability-inclusive development in international aid and development work. Key concepts related to GEDSI and the links between GEDSI and water management projects internationally are also explored.
Video URL: https://youtu.be/r7vb_aH2AgU
AWP Gender Equality, Disability and Social Inclusion Training – Part 2
Workshop Part 2 slides (PDF 1.7mb)
Workshop summary – Part 1 & 2 (PDF 1.6mb)
This virtual workshop aims to build AWP partner capability in developing proposals that address GEDSI and to improve the GEDSI outcomes of AWP activities through use of case studies, resources and tools. The training has a specific focus on disability-inclusive development in international aid and development work. Key concepts related to GEDSI and the links between GEDSI and water management projects internationally are also explored.
Video URL: https://youtu.be/W77Rg5tNdXg
Additional Resources
- GEDSI Continuum and Guidance (PDF 496kb)
- GESI Glossary (PDF 56kb)
- CBM disability-inclusive communications and language guide (PDF 179kb)
- CBM Equity vs equality vs No barriers (PDF 248kb)
- CBM Leave No One Behind (PDF 2MB)
- CBM The 3 P’s-The Personal, the Political, and the Policy (PDF 1MB)
- Disability inclusion & COVID-19 for WaSH (PDF 707kb)
- Gender & WaSH monitoring tool (PDF 4MB)
- Gender & Social Inclusion M&E Note (PDF 617kb)
- GWP Gender equality and inclusion in WRM (PDF 2MB)
- Toolkit to Mainstream Gender in Water Operations (PDF 5MB)
- WaSH & Gender (PDF 296kb)
- Water, Women & Disability study (PDF 2MB)
- WaterAid GEDSI within WaSH (PDF 4MB)
- Working effectively with women and men in WaSH (PDF 2MB)
- CBM Australia website
- DID4All website
- Gender in Irrigation Learning and Improvement Tool
- Guidelines on how to collect sex-disaggregated water data
- AWP Partners Workshop 2022 – Gender in practice 2-pager (PDF 262kb)
- DFAT Gender Equality, Disability and Social Inclusion Analysis: Good Practice Note 2023
Resources
Annual Reports
Climate
AWP Annual Report 2024-2025
Corporate Documents
GEDSI
AWP GEDSI Plan 2026 (public)
Corporate Documents
GEDSI
GEDSI Good Practice Guide for Partners (Jan 2026)
Briefs and Summaries
GEDSI
Strengthening disability inclusive water solutions in a changing climate in Cambodia
GEDSI
AWP GEDSI Good Practice Guide for Partners
Case Studies
Capacity Strengthening
Technical Support to Improve Reservoir Water Quality Management in Thailand
Case Studies
GEDSI
Technical Support to the Process of Amending Vietnam’s Law on Water Resources
Case Studies
GEDSI
Hydrology Support for Flash Flood Early Warning Systems in The Pacific
Case Studies
Capacity Strengthening
District Wide Water Resources Management in Cambodia
Case Studies
Capacity Strengthening
Building the Enabling Environment for Inclusive, Climate Resilient Wash and Water Resource Management in Papua New Guinea
Framing Papers
GEDSI
Gender & SDG 6: The Critical Connection
Case Studies
GEDSI
Water, Food, and Gender Equality Synergies
Australian Publications
Australian Perspective Series
Gender Equality & Goal 6: The Critical Connection
Australian Publications
Australian Perspective Series
Gender Equality and Goal 6 – The Critical Connection: An Australian Perspective
Events
Making inclusion stick: tools, strategies and water law – Webinar series – Part 2
October 15, 2026
AWP Partners Workshop 2026
May 29, 2026
Asian Women and Rivers Congress
June 4, 2024
Water for all – Inclusive governance and management in agriculture
May 8, 2024
