Water is life. It’s a basic human necessity, yet millions around the globe, particularly in rural Africa, still struggle to access clean and safe water. The lack of clean water impacts communities broadly, but women and girls face a disproportionate share of the burden. Matilda Mutanguha, our Donor Coordination Lead at Innovation: Africa, deeply understands women’s struggles. Her personal experiences and passion for human rights and international development fuel her commitment to the cause. Matilda is here to share some of the biggest struggles women face under water scarcity.

Innovation: Africa’s Matilda Mutanguha at a newly installed fresh water tap in Malawi, ensuring clean water access for the community.

The Burden of Water Fetching

In many African communities, the task of fetching water falls primarily on women and girls. These challenges impact nearly every aspect of their lives, from education and health to economic opportunities and personal safety. As you read, remember that this is not merely a catalog of unfortunate circumstances, but a genuine glimpse into the lives of countless women across rural Africa. The following are some of the most significant obstacles they face:

**Please be advised that some of the following content explores sensitive subjects including discussions of sexual and domestic abuse**

1. Sexual & Domestic Violence

The journey to fetch water can expose women to violence. Matilda shared, “Many women and girls make these trips early in the morning or late in the evening when it’s less crowded, but visibility is low. This makes them targets for sexual violence.” Incidents such as rape can lead to pregnancies in young girls, whose bodies are not yet developed for childbirth.

Matilda also highlighted another form of violence many rural African women face—domestic violence. “Fetching water is a social activity for women to meet, discuss, and interact,” she explained. This social interaction can lead to domestic violence, as some husbands believe their wives spend too much time at the well. Matilda revealed, “I recently came back from Malawi and South Africa, and even in Uganda, women were thankful when we brought them water because they said, ‘We can now dedicate more time to our families, which will help reduce cases of domestic violence.'”

Women may also spend extra time fetching water when forced to find alternative sources due to drought, further highlighting the severe and unfair pressures they face.

2. Impact on Education: A Daily Struggle for Learning

Fetching water significantly impacts girls’ education. “Women and girls in most African communities bear the burden of fetching water, often from contaminated sources, leading to health issues like diarrhea, cholera, and skin rashes. This significantly impacts their education as they miss school or drop out due to these health issues and the time spent fetching water,” Matilda says. As a result, they remain stuck in a cycle of poverty, unable to pursue higher education and improve their prospects.

3. Economic Impact: The Cost of Contaminated Water

The time and energy spent on fetching water hinder women’s ability to engage in income-generating activities. Matilda explained, “A lot of women are focusing primarily on fetching water because it takes hours to get from the open source back to their homes. This means they have little time to focus on their businesses.

For instance, in a village in Malawi, a woman running a small tailoring business faced significant challenges. She had to spend a large portion of her day fetching water, leaving her with little time to focus on her business. The dirty water also sometimes damaged the traditional African fabrics, leaving customers dissatisfied.”

Thankfully, we have positive news to share. Innovation: Africa successfully installed fresh water taps in her village. Since then, her business has flourished!

4. Reproductive Health

Drinking contaminated water poses unique dangers to women. Matilda shares, “Many of the water sources in rural areas are extremely contaminated, leading to reproductive issues and significantly increasing the risk of miscarriage. Water-related infections can cause high fevers and systemic infections, which are especially harmful to pregnant women. Sudden losses of pregnancy due to contaminated water are all too common.”

Rural water sources are often shared with livestock, polluting them with fecal matter. Additionally, water may contain hazardous toxins and heavy metals.

“The physical strain of fetching water, combined with health problems like diarrhea and malnutrition, exacerbates the struggles women face. Contaminated water can also cause missed periods and other menstrual irregularities, further impacting women’s health and well-being,” Matilda added

5. Menstrual Hygiene

Women and girls without access to clean water face significant challenges with menstrual hygiene. “During their menstrual periods, they often use reusable cloths as pads due to the lack of commercial sanitary products. This leads to hygiene problems because they need to frequently wash these cloths with limited dirty water, which can result in infections,” Matilda explains.

“Girls may miss school during their menstrual periods because they lack proper sanitary facilities and clean water at school. This leads to further educational setbacks.”

Additionally, the embarrassment of being unable to maintain proper hygiene or clean up after a menstrual accident (such as bleeding through school uniforms) may cause girls to skip school.

6. Prostitution and Human Trafficking

The desperation for water can push women into prostitution and make them vulnerable to human trafficking. Matilda explained, “Let’s say I’m a single mother with four children who need to be fed, and I don’t have a job. The father of my children is not present or active in their lives. I will do whatever it takes to provide for them.”

She continues, “In many remote areas in sub-Saharan Africa, the desperation for basic necessities like water leads some women into prostitution as a means of survival. Single mothers may resort to selling their bodies to provide for their families.”

“Men from urban areas often exploit the desperation of women in rural areas, luring them into prostitution in exchange for water and other essentials. This also increases the risk of human trafficking, as women and girls may be promised access to water or employment in exchange for sexual favors.”

Innovation: Africa’s Impact

Innovation: Africa provides clean water close to homes, reducing the time and risk of fetching water. Our projects involve the community from the start, ensuring sustainability and ownership. By bringing clean water to remote villages, we improve health outcomes and empower women economically, allowing them to start businesses, focus on productive activities, and ensure their children receive a better education.

“We ensure that community tap stands are equitably distributed so each household has access to a tap just a few minutes away, eliminating long, dangerous walks,” Matilda shares.

“By providing clean water close to homes, we enable women to spend more time on productive activities like starting businesses and caring for their children. This significantly improves their economic and social well-being,” she adds.

Matilda emphasized the importance of community engagement and ownership in Innovation: Africa’s projects. We collaborate with local leaders and community members to ensure success and long-term viability. Continuous monitoring keeps the projects effective.

Matilda’s Commitment

Matilda and the Innovation: Africa team surround a newly installed tap, celebrating the arrival of fresh water in a Malawian village.

Matilda’s parents fled Rwanda in the 1960s during ethnic violence and settled in Uganda. Born in Sudan and later returning to Uganda, she lived in Japan, Tanzania, Zambia, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Each move deepened her passion for human rights and development as she witnessed different cultures and struggles.

In the United States, Matilda pursued a law degree focusing on public interest law and human rights. Her career included roles at the African Development Bank in Zambia and PricewaterhouseCoopers in Rwanda and New York. Determined to make a difference, she earned a Master’s in International Development and Health from the London School of Economics (LSE).

In 2022, Matilda joined Innovation: Africa as the Donor Coordination Lead. She connects with donors to support clean water projects and other initiatives, helping drive the organization’s mission to provide clean water and empower African communities.

Conclusion: The Path Forward

“We are giving communities a new lease on life by providing access to clean water, which significantly reduces the time and risk associated with fetching water,” Matilda states.

Supporting African charities like Innovation: Africa and choosing to donate for water in Africa are crucial steps in addressing this issue. Your support helps bring clean water to those in need and improves the lives of women and girls across the continent. Consider supporting Innovation: Africa, one of the best African charities to donate to, and help create a brighter future for these communities!