The 2026 edition of the United Nations World Water Development Report titled, Water for All People: Equal Rights and Opportunities highlights how equal rights and opportunities in relation to water can create benefits for everyone. It highlights that women and girls often disproportionally bear the responsibility for providing water to households, in places where access to drinking water, sanitation and hygiene services is lacking. The report demonstrates that gender-responsive actions across key water-use sectors, including agriculture, industry, water supply, and sanitation can generate social, economic, and environmental benefits through comprehensive and evidence-based examinations. These actions encompass a wide range of areas, from education and research to governance, policy frameworks, and financing mechanisms.

In particular, continuous water-related education and capacity-building is identified as a cornerstone of stronger water governance and gender equality. The strength of community and collectives over individual efforts is also highlighted. The report aims to provide a balanced, objective, and evidence-based assessment of current knowledge around water and gender.

The report can be bought here.