Gender and water have a particularly strong link. For sustainable water resources management ensuring meaningful participation of all stakeholders is critical. In partnership with UNEP -DHI,  Cap-Net UNDP, the Gender and Water Alliance (GWA) and Global Water Partnership (GWP) have developed this online course on Gender and Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM). The 2026 edition of the course is now available through Cap-Net UNDP’s Virtual Campus. 

Guided by the ‘Why Gender Matters in IWRM’ training manual, this course unravels the existing challenges faced by women when dealing with water, demonstrates how the two are connected and explains the benefits of addressing gender and water in an integrated way.   

By the end of the course, participants will be able to design and implement integrated and inclusive gender mainstreaming interventions in the water sector. They will also be equipped with tools to support strong recognition of gender-related challenges, leverage their knowledge towards adaptive measures to climate change, and work towards inclusive representation of all stakeholders in sustainable water resources management practices.  

Upon completion of all six modules, participants will receive a certificate issued by the course organizers. The modules are: 

• Module 1: Introduction to Gender and IWRM   

• Module 2: Gender mainstreaming in WRM nationally: from paper to practice  

• Module 3: Gender, Water and Climate Change  

• Module 4: Gender, Water and Sanitation  

• Module 5: Gender, Water and inclusive decision making  

• Module 6:  Gender disaggregated data and monitoring IWRM  

The training is open to stakeholders across the water sector around the world: from river basin organizations and water management professionals to policy makers, international organizations, and civil society at large. No previous knowledge of gender or its interactions with water is required.

The course will be open until November 15, 2026.