The Peruvian Government, together with USAID and the Government of Canada, organized the first Forum on Gender Equality and Water Security, in the face of the problems of climate change and gender inequality that affect Peru and the world. 

The forum was held from June 11 to 13 in Lima. Ambassador of the United States Krishna Urs gave a speech at the inauguration along with Canadian Ambassador Gwyneth Kutz, Minister of Women and Vulnerable Populations Gloria Montenegro and Deputy Minister of the Environment Gabriel Quijandría.

The forum counted with the participation of specialists in natural resources, environmental management and gender approach, both in the public and private sectors. In addition, representatives of the Peruvian government, academia and international research centers participated.

The forum positioned gender equality and water security at the highest level of the Peruvian Government’s agenda and generated explicit commitments from representatives of the water and environment sector. The Forum was organized with support from USAID’s $27.5 million Natural Infrastructure for Water Security (NIWS) project co-funded by the Government of Canada.

The objectives of the Forum were to:  1) spark a public conversation about the benefits of investing in gender equality and natural infrastructure to enhance water security; 2) inspire new policies and efforts to address the gender imbalance in the institutions, policies, and practices that affect water management; and 3) serve as a networking event for water security stakeholders at the community, businesses, and government levels.