International Water Association
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IWA Publishing
4-8 October 2026

Women in Water Programme

The Women in Water Programme is now inviting topic submissions for the IWA World Water Congress & Exhibition. We welcome proposals that showcase women’s leadership, technical expertise, innovation, and solutions to advance gender equity across the global water sector. Submit your topic by 30 June 2026 and help shape conversations that drive a more inclusive water future.

Call for Topics

The International Water Association (IWA) invites submissions for session topics for the Women in Water Programme at the upcoming IWA World Water Congress & Exhibition. This programme brings together women across the global water sector — utilities, research, engineering, policy, consulting, entrepreneurship, and community leadership — to share insights, strengthen networks, and shape a more inclusive water future.

We welcome proposals that highlight challenges, innovations, lived experiences, and transformative ideas that advance gender equity and elevate women’s leadership in the water sector.

Deadline for Submission: 30 June 2026

We encourage topics that:

  • Showcase women’s technical expertise, innovation, and leadership
  • Address structural barriers and propose actionable solutions
  • Highlight gendered impacts of water, climate, and WASH challenges
  • Strengthen career pathways, visibility, and professional networks
  • Explore intersectionality, inclusivity, and diverse perspectives
  • Present case studies, tools, or models that can be replicated globally

Who can submit: Submissions are open to all genders, all regions, and all professional backgrounds within the water sector. Early‑career professionals are especially encouraged to contribute.

Format of submissions

Please include:

  1. Proposed topic title
  2. Short description (150–200 words)
  3. Why this topic matters now
  4. Intended audience
  5. Preferred session format (panel, workshop, roundtable, technical talk, storytelling, etc.)

Deadline: 30 June 2026

Submit Here >
Curated shortlist of suggested topics
Leadership, Visibility & Career Progression
  • Breaking the “glass pipeline” in utilities and engineering
  • Women in technical leadership: modelling, treatment, digital water
  • Sponsorship vs mentorship: what actually accelerates careers
  • Navigating male-dominated decision spaces
Workplace Equity, Safety & Organisational Culture
  • Gender bias in project allocation and promotions
  • Safety in fieldwork: harassment, PPE, lone-working protocols
  • Flexible work models for operational and engineering roles
  • Pay transparency and accountability
Gender & Water Policy / WASH Outcomes
  • Gendered impacts of climate change, drought, and water scarcity
  • Women’s leadership in community water governance
  • Menstrual health and dignity in WASH systems
  • Gender-responsive budgeting in water institutions
Innovation, Technology & Digital Water
  • Women leading digital transformation in utilities
  • Gender considerations in infrastructure design
  • AI, remote sensing, and data science: ensuring women’s participation
  • Female-led innovation in water treatment and reuse
Entrepreneurship & Women-Led Water Enterprises
  • Access to finance for women founders
  • Scaling water innovations in LMICs
  • Procurement systems that disadvantage women-owned firms
  • Case studies of successful women-led water technology companies
Networks, Mentorship & Community Building
  • Building global women-in-water networks
  • Peer learning circles and cross-country mentorship
  • Creating psychologically safe professional spaces
Personal Development & Skills
  • Confidence and technical communication
  • Imposter syndrome in engineering and science
  • Resilience, burnout, and wellbeing in the water sector
Male Allyship & Systemic Change
  • Engaging men in gender equity
  • Organisational transformation beyond “fixing women”
  • Accountability frameworks for gender commitments
Scoring Rubric for Topic Selection
Criterion Description
Relevance to Women in Water Aligns clearly with gender equity, women’s leadership, or gendered water challenges.
Sector Importance / Timeliness Addresses a current or emerging issue in the global water sector.
Clarity & Focus Topic is well‑defined, coherent, and suitable for a session format.
Potential Impact Likely to generate actionable insights, tools, or change.
Diversity & Inclusion Value Elevates underrepresented voices, regions, or perspectives.
Innovation / Originality Offers fresh thinking, new evidence, or novel approaches.
Feasibility Realistic to deliver within Congress constraints (time, speakers, format).
Speaker Diversity & Inclusion Checklist
Gender Representation
  • At least 50% women (aim for >60% for Women in Water sessions)
  • Include non-binary and gender-diverse voices
  • Avoid all-male panels and male-only moderation
Geographic & Regional Diversity
  • Representation from multiple world regions
  • Include voices from LMICs
  • Avoid single-country dominance
Professional Diversity
  • Mix of utilities, academia, consulting, NGOs, government, and private sector
  • Include early-career professionals
  • Ensure women with technical expertise are visible
Racial, Ethnic & Cultural Diversity
  • Representation of diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds
  • Include Indigenous and minority voices where relevant
Age & Career Stage Diversity
  • Early-career, mid-career, and senior professionals
  • Avoid panels composed exclusively of senior executives
Lived Experience & Sectoral Relevance
  • Include practitioners, operators, and community leaders
  • Ensure technical sessions include technical women
Accessibility & Inclusion Needs
  • Confirm accessibility requirements
  • Ensure inclusive facilitation
Language & Communication Diversity
  • Include speakers from varied linguistic backgrounds
  • Avoid panels consisting only of native English speakers
Avoiding Tokenism
  • Select speakers for expertise, not identity alone
  • Avoid repeatedly using the same highly visible speakers
Moderator Diversity
  • Moderators should also reflect diversity
  • Prefer moderators trained in inclusive facilitation
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