The Youth Environmental Justice and Gender Equality (YOGE), with support from IUCNs BRIDGE Women Leadership Grants, will host an empowerment workshop for women and youth leaders in Water Resource Management on April 17, 2026, in Mbinga, Ruvuma Region.
The workshop will bring together women and youth leaders, representatives from Water User Associations, sub-catchment committees, Office of the Regional Commissioner of Ruvuma, Local government authorities, water resource management authorities, civil society organizations, Local Community based organizations, media practitioners, and other key stakeholders in water resource management.
During the workshop, participants will be equipped with knowledge and practical skills in inclusive water resource management, gender equality, women’s participation in water governance, use of technology, financial literacy, and environmental strategy, while also advancing women’s participation in water governance.
This activity forms part of the Inclusive Freshwater Governance for Sustainable Communities in Ruvuma Basin “Voices for Water” project launched in early 2026. The project aims to strengthen inclusive, equitable, and gender-responsive water governance across the Ruvuma Basin by empowering women and youth to actively participate in decision-making processes at both community and basin levels.
The initiative is expected to benefit communities across the Ruvuma, Ruhuhu, Luwegu, and Mbinga sub-basins by improving water access, strengthening governance systems, and enhancing ecosystem protection. It further promotes collaboration among government institutions, water management authorities, civil society organizations, media, and local communities to ensure coordinated and sustainable water resource management.
Through training, advocacy, multi-stakeholder dialogue, and media engagement, the project seeks to build climate resilience, reduce water-related conflicts, and support sustainable livelihoods. It underscores that inclusive water governance is essential for preventing resource degradation, reducing inequalities, and fostering peace and cooperation within the basin.
Partners in the project apart from YOGE and IUCN Bridge include the Tanzania Media for Community Development, Office of the Regional Commissioner of Ruvuma, Mbinga Town Council, and Songea Municipal Council in the Ruvuma Region, Tanzania.
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)s Building River Dialogue and Governance (BRIDGE) Women Leadership Grants support women-led and women-focused initiatives that strengthen leadership in freshwater governance and ecosystem restoration. The grants enhance the capacity of women and their organizations to lead actions that benefit shared basins and promote resilient freshwater ecosystems. For more information, please visit: BRIDGE Programme Grants – The IUCN Water Knowledge Platform.
The Youth Environmental Justice and Gender Equality (YOGE) is a youth-led organization based in Tanzania, committed to advancing inclusive and sustainable development by empowering youth, women, and marginalized groups across the country. For more information, please visit: Website: www.yoge.or.tz, Facebook https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61577492116633 Instagram: yoge_tz,
Kama una Taarifa, Habari, Tangazo n.k Wasiliana nasi kupitia shinyapress@gmail.com au +255 788 469 464
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