The “Water is Life” initiative, funded by the Government of Japan and led by UN Women in collaboration with the Women’s Unions of Ca Mau and Ninh Thuan, is a year-long project from 2024 till 2025.

Through providing water storage tanks, filtration systems, efficient water saving equipment, and targeted communication programs, this initiative will enhance women’s sustainable access to clean and agriculture water, improve their livelihoods, and contribute to the prevention of gender-based violence in these provinces.

“Women carry the primary responsibility for water collection and caregiving in their households, making them the first and hardest hit by water scarcity,” said Caroline Nyamayemombe, UN Women Representative in Vietnam.

“Water is Life” project not only eases these burdens by securing vital water supplies but also empowers women in the frontline of building community resilience against climate impacts.

Due to water scarcity, women spend an additional two to three hours each day collecting water, which affects their health, restricts work opportunities, and heightens their exposure to gender-based violence when traveling far from home. Additionally, a lack of clean water contributes to the spread of infectious diseases, especially impacting children and pregnant women, old people and thereby increasing caregiving responsibilities.

Furthermore, as part of the province’s development plan for water provision, this project is creating linkages with private sector investors in water saving technologies, with a commitment to empowering women, as the province continues to pursue long term solutions of this climate induced disaster.

With the Government of Japan’s support, it is estimated that 7,200 people, especially vulnerable women, will benefit from these efforts.

“We hope that this project will improve access to clean water for women and children living in the province of Ca Mau, and that this will lead to the revitalization of agriculture and other industries in the province, as well as to the securing of livelihoods for women in vulnerable positions”, said Mr. Ito Naoki, the Ambassador of Japan to Vietnam.

From November 5 till end of Dec 2024, over 420 women in Khanh Binh Tay Commune, Tran Van Thoi District, Ca Mau, received water storage tanks to help reduce time spent on water collection, lighten caregiving burdens, and protect family health.

Additionally, 200 women with a need to improve agricultural irrigation systems will receive financial support for water-saving irrigation equipment, following the declaration of a level 2 drought emergency on the water situation.

Facing severe drought, significant saltwater intrusion, and a heightened risk of wildfires, Ca Mau and Ninh Thuan are among Vietnam’s most climate-vulnerable regions./.