Training in Gender Equality for Women Water Leaders at JSC “Uzsuvta’minot”

On 28 April, a Training of Trainers (ToT) session on gender equality was held at the headquarters of JSC “Uzsuvta’minot” for women managers. The event was organized as part of the WASH project implemented by the International Water Management Institute (IWMI) with support from the World Bank

Background: The project “Uzbekistan’s Water Supply and Sanitation Governance” is implemented by IWMI and aims to enhance the institutional capacity of JSC “Uzsuvta’minot”. Its overall objective is to improve the coverage, quality, and efficiency of water supply and sanitation (WSS) services through innovative approaches and strengthened accountability mechanisms. Key areas of the project include: Citizen engagement: development of a methodology to assess customer satisfaction with water supply and sanitation services; Gender equality: preparation of action plans to promote gender equality and inclusivity in the WSS sector; GIS training and implementation: capacity building on geographic information systems and remote sensing tools for planning, monitoring, and evaluation in the sector; Reporting: support for the preparation of the annual national sector status report to ensure transparency and evidence-based planning.

The project implementation period is from October 2025 to December 2026. The Republic of Karakalpakstan and Samarkand and Syrdarya provinces have been selected as pilot areas. The initiative directly contributes to Uzbekistan’s progress toward Sustainable Development Goal 6.

More than 50 female professionals from the central office and regional water supply enterprises participated in the training. The session was held in a hybrid format: participants from Tashkent city and Tashkent province attended in person, while specialists from regional offices joined online. The participants included HRs, as well as specialists from laboratories, economic analysis units, accounting, environmental protection, and other technical and administrative fields.

The event was opened by Nodir Khojaev, Deputy Chairman of the JSC “Uzsuvta’minot”’s Board, who emphasized the importance of strengthening the role of women in the water supply and water management sector. Barbara Janusz-Pawletta, Director of IWMI also delivered a welcome address, highlighting the importance of applying a gender-sensitive approach in water projects.

A representative of the Committee on Family and Women of the Republic of Uzbekistan also took part in the event. She spoke about ongoing national measures and opportunities to support women, as well as government policies aimed at ensuring gender equality and expanding women’s participation in socioeconomic and administrative spheres. The training session featured presentations by Iskandar Abdullaev, Senior Researcher at IWMI; Kamila Zukhridinova, IWMI Gender Specialist; and Suriya Turaeva, Gender Project Consultant. They presented the project’s preliminary findings and outlined future directions for implementation.

Particular attention was paid to gender analysis in the water supply sector. Nilufar Sapaeva, Information Service and Gender Officer, presented the results of her research on gender mainstreaming within the JSC “Uzsuvta’minot” system. Her presentation highlighted women’s participation in management processes, as well as opportunities for strengthening their professional capacity and career development.

Gulnoza Khamdamova, a guest expert from SIC ICWC, also spoke at the event. She shared practical experience in the field of water management and presented key regulatory and legal documents of the Republic of Uzbekistan, including the updated Water Code of the Republic of Uzbekistan and the 2025–2030 Gender Concept of the Water Sector in the Republic of Uzbekistan.

The training was conducted in an interactive format and included role-playing exercises, group discussions, and practical exercises aimed at developing leadership skills, raising awareness of gender issues, and strengthening the capacity of women professionals in the water supply sector.

At the conclusion, all participants were awarded certificates confirming their participation in the training, successful completion of the program, and contribution to advancing gender equality.

The organizers noted that the training session marked an important step toward establishing a sustainable platform for promoting gender equality within the JSC “Uzsuvta’minot” system. Participants emphasized the high practical value of the event, its interactive format, and relevance of the topics discussed. Such training sessions are expected to strengthen women’s professional capacity, expand their participation in management processes, and further promote an inclusive approach in Uzbekistan’s water sector.

News, updates on activities, ongoing projects, and upcoming events of JSC “Uzsuvta’minot” are available on the organization’s official website and its official social media channels.