Harnassing modern and ancient practices
Many women in water-poor regions travel long distances to fetch water, often in dangerous areas and under threat of violence if the chore is not completed satisfactorily. Too frequently, though, programmes seeking to ease this burden for women fail to consider that time away from the house may also be an escape from household labour and domestic abuse. Importantly, it gives women an opportunity to be in women-only spaces.
And being resource gatekeepers is a source of power. Managing food, water, and other natural resources is one of the few ways women may be able to materially exert their agency.
One local non-governmental organisation in Morocco is building women’s empowerment into their development projects by considering these issues from the very start. Dar Si Hmad’s fog project combines modern technology and an ancient practice to harvest potable water from the fog that drifts over the Anti-Atlas Mountains. Recognising women’s privileged ancestral role as water guardians, the project has also enhanced women’s technology capabilities so they can report data and monitor their water system via SMS message.
Reliable taps have been installed which means that women in Amazigh villages now no longer have to walk five kilometres at 4am to fill containers of water. To ensure the women are able to continue having conversations that used to occur near the wells, Dar Si Hmad is pursuing other avenues. In female-focused spaces with local facilitators, rural women explore projects such as argan co-ops as routes to economic empowerment and personal satisfaction.