1. Good day to you all! I will be presenting to you the President’s Appeal Women, Water and Leadership which seeks to unite Soroptimists across the globe as a global voice for women, increasing awareness of the vital role of women as equal partners at all levels in the water sector.

2. Water is Life Safe, accessible water is crucial to preserving life
Women suffer most due to water scarcity
Investments in safe drinking water & sanitation US$1 returns US$ 3-34
Access to clean water provides food security and poverty reduction
Access to water determines how communities plan for the future
Women’s expertise is needed throughout the whole water chain
Educating women to work in the water sector will empower them to lead
Safe, accessible water is crucial to preserving life. In many countries securing water is a daily fight for survival, especially for women. A growing population, climate change and demographic shifts lead to an increased demand for water.
Investments in safe drinking water and sanitation have paved a path to economic growth. Such investments have high rates of return: for each US$1 invested, the World Health Organization (WHO) estimates returns of US$3-34.
Access to water determines the way in which individuals and communities plan, envisage and shape their future, and women’s contributions and leadership is increasingly accepted as key in this process. Their expertise, if harnessed through education and empowerment, can position women as effective leaders.

3. Contributes to SDG 4 (Education) SDG 5 (Gender Equality) and
SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation)
Water can be linked to almost all of the seventeen SDGs - touching so many aspects of life
Soroptimist International and the SI UN Representatives are working on implementing the UN Sustainable Development Goals SDG 4 (Quality Education) SDG 5 (Gender Equality) and SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation). UN agencies, NGOs, governments and private sector, realise that water is the most valuable resource for sustaining life.
Water can be linked to almost all the seventeen SDGs, since it touches so many aspects of life — be it drinking, growing food, doing business, sanitation, health and energy - women and sustainability are essential components of the Goals.

4. Water is the entry point for women's empowerment
Women and girls are burdened with the responsibility of fetching water
Time spent fetching water results in lost income for women and lost schooling for girls
Only 17% of jobs in the water sector filled by women
Women, Water & Leadership will Educate, Empower and Enable women and girls to lead in the water sector
In over 70% of households where water must be fetched, women and girls are still burdened with this responsibility. Evidence shows that time spent fetching water translates to lost income for women, and lost schooling for girls.
The Appeal will focus on how women can play a stronger role in revitalising the economy and society, specifically in the water sector. Of the millions of water-related paid jobs worldwide, currently only 17% are filled by women. With an increasing shortage of qualified professionals in the water sector – there is clearly a gap that women are able to fill. Water management is largely seen as technology driven, and technology has not been perceived as women’s business. So, let’s change this attitude! Let’s not miss this opportunity! Ensure capacity building for women, educate women at all levels (SDG 4) - from university degrees to vocational training, so we can not only influence the implementation of SDG 6 but also link SDG 5 gender equality in the process.

5. Our Goal
£350,000/€400,000/US$500,000 over two years through donations
A minimum of 5 projects on 5 continents
500 women will receive vocational training, and 100 leaders will be trained
Our Method
Capacity building, involving women in all phases of the project
Vocational and leadership training
Public awareness regarding the importance of women as decision-makers in the water sector
The aim is to raise a minimal of £350,000 over the two years, and to have improved, sustainable, accessible and affordable water products and services across five continents. The Appeal will increase the opportunities for a minimum of 500 women, training them to be self-supporting through the implementation of water projects. Safe water and sanitation infrastructures will be maintained through vocational training and access to technology for women. One hundred women will be enabled and educated to take on leadership roles - A win-win situation for the women, their families and community.
so, how are we going to do this?
• Women will be educated, empowered and involved in all phases of the projects: from design to implementation, through to monitoring and evaluation.
• Capacity development, vocational and leadership training will be included in the project design.
• Increase public awareness about the vital role of women and girls as equal partners in the water sector at every level, to achieve water security for all.

6. How can you help? Projects may be proposed by Soroptimists
Make a donation to the President’s Appeal,
Hold a fundraiser or special event
Use social media and websites to create awareness
Possible site visits or study tour!
Projects may be recommended by Soroptimists and will be reviewed by the President’s Appeal Committee. To increase the success of each project, it is important that a Soroptimist club or Union/Region is in place to ensure everything runs smoothly, and to enhance communication between SI and the Project on the ground. An emphasis will be placed on funding projects that are sustainable; projects that can continue to thrive and be maintained by the women once PA funding has complete.
Social Media will be utilised and information distributed directly to the Federations, in addition to being available through the Member Area of the SI website. Leaflets, PA logos and Postcards will be available for download and news as it comes in, will be shared with the membership.
The President’s Appeal offers an opportunity for Soroptimists to show others that we are indeed an International organisation, and it’s a way to attract new members, so please use it!
It is possible to donate to the President’s Appeal Fund – or to a specific project within the Appeal, and this can be done directly through your own Federation. Soroptimists can get further involved by advocating for the PA, organising fundraising and awareness raising events, where they can make use of the communication materials available on the SI website. Where possible, site visits will also be supported and coordinated by SI.

7. 'Educate to Lead: Nepal’, the President's Appeal , has proved extremely successful. Fifteen projects are funded with donations expected to reach almost
£400,000.
Educate to Lead: Nepal’ has been extremely successful and we are now seeing the fruits of what has been accomplished and how the money donated is being used to educate and advance the status of women and girls. With the launch of ‘Women, Water and Leadership’ we will continue to educate, empower and enable women and girls to lead, specifically targeting the water sector.

8. Women Water & Leadership - First Project
Improving access to agricultural Information, clean energy and water, to achieve better food security for 500 women farmers in the Nakuru, Kilifi, Kisumu and Machakos counties in Kenya.
The first President’s Appeal project has been chosen, where we will seek to educate, empower and enable 500 women farmers in Nakuru, Kilifi, Kisumu and Machakos counties in Kenya. 70% of the farmers in Kenya are subsistence farmers, of whom 60% are women. This project will ensure that the women farmers have adequate food, and the opportunity to learn new skills and technologies, to enable them to move from subsistence farming to commercial farming – breaking the cycle of poverty and benefiting families and communities alike.

9. Mwihoki project in Kenya – subsistence farmers
Training on water and better food security
Sustainability – train other women in other communities

10. ‘Women, Water & Leadership’ pins have been created utilising the Appeal logo. Details of how to purchase the pins will be available on the SI website very soon.
A necklace/pin has been beautifully designed by Soroptimist Villy Makou from Greece. Created in silver and blue enamel and in 22k gold plated and blue enamel, the stunning designs can be ordered from the Chair of the President’s Appeal, Hafdís Karlsdóttir via .

11. To find out more about the Women, Water and Leadership and how to donate please contact Chair of the International President’s Appeal Hafdís Karlsdóttir
To find out more about 'Women, Water and Leadership' and how to donate please contact Chair of the International President’s Appeal - Hafdís Karlsdóttir

12. Women, Water & Leadership SI President’s Appeal 2017-2019