Gender-Responsive Water Governance

World Water Day 2026: Cross River, Akwa Ibom Face Urgent Call for Gender-Responsive Water Governance.

Uyo/Calabar | March 22, 2026. To commemorate the 2026 World Water Day 2026 themed “Water and Gender: Where Water Flows, Equality Grows,” Peace Point Development Foundation (PPDF) has called for urgent, inclusive, and gender-responsive reforms in the water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) sectors across Akwa Ibom State and Cross River State.

The organisation made the call during a community engagement in Ibeno Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom, while also drawing critical parallels with policy and implementation gaps in Cross River State.

PPDF said the 2026 theme highlights the disproportionate burden borne by women and girls in water-scarce communities, stressing that limited access to safe and reliable water continues to undermine their health, dignity, education, and economic opportunities.

“Where water flows, equality grows. But in many of our communities, clean and safe water does not flow and inequality persists,” the organisation stated.

In rural communities across Akwa Ibom and Cross River, women and girls often travel long distances in search of water, exposing them to safety risks and limiting time for education and livelihoods. The lack of safe and private sanitation facilities further worsens their conditions, particularly in schools and public spaces.

While acknowledging progress by the Akwa Ibom State Government such as the approval of the State WASH Policy, Monitoring and Evaluation Framework, Open Defecation-Free (ODF) Roadmap, and the enactment of the Water Sector Law in 2022, PPDF expressed concern over slow implementation.

The organisation noted that nearly a year after the approval of sanitation and hygiene facilities in Obot Akara, Ikono, Esit Eket, and Nsit Ubium Local Government Areas, the projects are yet to be commissioned.

“Provision of sanitation facilities, especially those critical to women’s dignity and safety, should not be delayed. Government must expedite delivery and ensure inclusivity for women and persons with disabilities,” it said.

PPDF further described as “disturbing” the delay in establishing key institutions such as the State Water Council and Water Regulatory Council, as well as the failure to transition the Akwa Ibom Water Company Limited into a full Water Corporation as required by law.

The group also noted that Akwa Ibom missed the 2025 national ODF target, with only one local government area achieving the benchmark, attributing this to inadequate funding, weak institutional coordination, and the withdrawal of major development partners.

Turning to Cross River State, PPDF acknowledged the legislative milestone achieved by the Cross River State House of Assembly in enacting the Open Defecation Prohibition Law, which assigns enforcement responsibilities to the State Task Group on WASH (STG-WASH) and Local Government WASH Departments.

The organisation however said that the absence of dedicated funding for implementation poses a serious threat to the effectiveness of the law.

“Without clear financial commitments, the enforcement of the Open Defecation Prohibition Law in Cross River risks becoming symbolic rather than impactful. Institutions cannot function optimally without the resources required for community engagement, monitoring, and service delivery,” PPDF stated.

It added that the funding gap significantly weakens the capacity of STG-WASH and local WASH departments to translate legislation into measurable sanitation outcomes, potentially undermining the state’s drive toward achieving Open Defecation-Free status and broader public health goals.

PPDF called on both state governments to prioritise sustainable financing, strengthen institutional frameworks, and accelerate implementation of WASH policies and projects.

Key recommendations include the immediate operationalisation of approved WASH frameworks, establishment of regulatory bodies, timely release of funds, and the creation of sustainable financing models. The organisation also urged both states to mandate functional WASH departments across all local government areas and ensure inclusive sanitation infrastructure in schools and public spaces.

Additional recommendations include consolidating environmental health functions for better coordination, mapping and managing waste disposal systems, and intensifying grassroots sensitisation on hygiene practices and ODF targets.

PPDF emphasised that communities must also play a central role by establishing local WASH committees to manage facilities and engage authorities.

“As we mark World Water Day, we must recognise that water is not just a resource, it is a pathway to equality. Ensuring equitable access, especially for women and girls in both Akwa Ibom and Cross River States, must be at the heart of all WASH interventions,” the organisation stated.