Water, Race, and Gender: A Correlation of Inequalities
Photo: greenaperture on Canva
This blog post is a translation and adaptation of the original article titled “Agua, raça e gênero: relação de desigualdade” written by Juliane Sousa, Quilombola Journalist and Communications and Marketing Manager at Sistema B Brasil.
It is unacceptable that race and gender should determine who suffers most from the lack of universal access to a fundamental human right—one essential to life itself. We must pave the way for Black women to participate in discussions on water access. Everyone has a role to play in uplifting initiatives that foster more equitable and effective participation by women in shaping industry policies and leading project strategies and implementation.
Racial and gender inequality have plagued Brazil for generations and they continue to pervade society writ large. These longstanding inequalities become even more acute when examined through the lens of one fundamental right in particular: access to water. While effective public policy solutions remain few and far between, part of the solution lies in the hands of the private sector.
Black Brazilians make up 55% of the population, yet they account for 69% of those without access to proper sanitation. The disparity is even more alarming when it comes to safe drinking water. According to the most recent census released by the Brazilian Institute for Geography and Statistics (IBGE) in February 2024, 72% of those without access to safe drinking water are Black. What’s more, a 2022 survey by Trata Brasil found that more than 16 million women in Brazil lack access to properly treated water and 38% live in areas without adequate sewage infrastructure.
Throughout history in Brazil, societal structures have been shaped by race and gender. European patriarchy dictated women’s roles in the political, economic, and social spheres. Household chores and caregiving responsibilities were assigned almost exclusively to women, who were often tasked with fetching water for their families—a task that usually meant walking long distances while carrying heavy buckets atop their heads.
Ironically, despite being historically responsible for securing and managing water for their families, women continue to have little to no influence in the key decisions, contracts, and public policies that shape water access. These policies are often crafted through economic, technical, or political lenses with little consideration of the social realities of those most impacted. Even with significant strides in the rights of women and Black communities, these layers of inequality are still deeply rooted.
Women make up the majority of the population in Brazil. Yet, the provision in the 1997 National Water Resources Policy that recognizes the importance of women’s contributions on regional boards and councils within the National Water Resources Management System remains under-enforced and widely questioned. Today, women represent only 28% of the National Water Resources Council (CNRH) and 38% of the National Water Agency (ANA), which only recently established a pro-equity committee. Of the 12,000 seats on Brazil’s 223 state watershed committees, only 31% are currently occupied by women.
These statistics point to a stark reality: women remain underrepresented in decision-making positions. Their voices are often dismissed, and they face limited opportunities to engage and lead critical discussions on water supply, protection, and management. Racial and gender disparities continue to undermine the mechanisms needed for equal and effective participation in these conversations—and, consequently, the ability to ensure access to safe drinking water for all.
It is unacceptable that race and gender should determine who suffers most from the lack of universal access to a fundamental human right—one essential to life itself. We must pave the way for Black women to participate in discussions on water access. Everyone has a role to play in uplifting initiatives that foster more equitable and effective participation by women in shaping industry policies and leading project strategies and implementation.
To address these systemic inequalities, both public policy and initiatives within the water and sanitation sector must incorporate race and gender perspectives into their core management strategies. Training programs must also be developed with these perspectives in mind, ensuring that women’s specific needs are considered at every level of decision-making throughout project design and execution.
The Role of Business
Material progress depends on coordinated, multi-sector engagement—from government to the private sector to civil society. Tackling these issues should not be confined to non-profit organizations; they must also be brought into corporate boardrooms. And that should only be the beginning. For-profit companies must also champion equitable access and management for women and men alike when it comes to safe drinking water, sanitation, food security, and environmental sustainability.
Regarding racial and gender equity, companies have a pivotal role to play in reducing inequalities and aligning their business strategies with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 5, 6, and 10—gender equality, clean water and sanitation, and reduced inequalities. It wasn’t happenstance that the UN designed its 2030 Agenda in concert with the private sector. With the backing of businesses, markets, and investors, the world can accelerate progress toward achieving these global objectives.
We will not overcome the challenges before us without active participation on the part of for-profit companies. In fact, the cost of inaction could be steep, even threatening the survival of many companies. Companies are critical partners in advancing toward the SDGs due to their operational reach, capacity to evaluate environmental impacts and mitigate harmful practices through concrete targets, transparent reporting, and strategic partnerships.
Many companies have already acknowledged their role in this mission and are taking steps in the right direction. Certified B Corporations, for example, have embraced this opportunity to use business as a force for good. By integrating sustainability into their core operations and aligning it with long-term strategy, they are redefining what it means to do business and reshaping entire value chains. The result is not only operational and cultural transformation but also a clear demonstration of purpose, reduced risk, and sustainable profitability.
The positive impact of these efforts is measured via the SDG Action Manager, a tool developed by B Lab Global in partnership with the UN Global Compact. The platform enables companies to align their strategy and operations with the SDGs, identify potential risks and areas for improvement, and set measurable goals through an action plan.
At Sistema B Brasil, we firmly believe in equal access to water as a fundamental human right. We view water access as a cornerstone of economic, social, environmental, and cultural development. In this context, purpose-driven organizations must recognize their influence and embrace their responsibility to lead in building a more inclusive, equitable, and sustainable world. Only then will we move closer to eradicating poverty and achieving meaningful, lasting sustainability.
