Women and Indigenous Knowledge in the Water Sector 8:00am-9:30am (NPT), 8 March 2022 OVERVIEW International Women’s Day (IWD) is celebrated worldwide every year on the 8th of March to recognize and honor the accomplishments of women and to increase awareness for gender equality and equity. To commemorate IWD 2022, the Tribhuvan University Alumni Association (TUANN), along with Small Earth Nepal and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Office in Kathmandu, will be hosting a webinar on 8 March 2022 to highlight the importance of women and indigenous knowledge for a sustainable future.  Women and indigenous communities are disproportionately affected by water insecurity, exacerbated by climate change. In several low-income countries like Nepal, girls and women are primarily responsible for collecting and managing water resources for household use, which often leads to a loss of livelihood opportunities and education. Indigenous Knowledge and women’s participation are therefore essential in addressing the multitude of complex challenges in water-related issues brought forth by climate change. Their knowledge systems and experiences are key to adopting measures to mitigate and adapt to these changes, as well as to maintain a balance in the ecosystem through a sustainable approach to water management. Therefore, this International Women’s Day we highlight the importance of both women and indigenous knowledge in the water sector. PURPOSE OF THE WEBINAR The webinar will focus on amplifying the importance and inclusion of indigenous knowledge and women in dialogues that seek solutions to maintain and manage water in Nepal. The webinar will host two keynote speakers, Dr. Soni Mulmi Pradhanang from the University of Rhode Island and Prof. Sudarshan Raj Tiwari from Tribhuvan University. In her presentation, Dr. Pradhanang will be addressing the barriers and challenges women professionals face in the water sector and in the field of Geosciences. She will talk about the importance and opportunities to fix this ‘leaky pipeline’ phenomenon by building a supportive scientific network and establishing mentoring programs for female scientists. Prof. Tiwari will be informing the audience about the technology and knowledge system behind the traditional urban water supply element of Hiti and women’s access to water in ancient Nepal. Together, they will provide an important insight about the role of women in water management, historical access of women to water sources, and the role, barriers and participation of women in Hydrology and Geoscience.  The session will be moderated by Dr. Dhiraj Pradhananga from Tribhuvan University. Mr. Michael Croft, UNESCO’s Head of Office and Representative to Nepal and Prof. Sunity Shrestha Hada, the Chairperson of TUAAN, will be providing their remarks after the presentations.