We look back at 2022 with gratitude for WaterRising Institute’s supporters, advisors and partners that made our international launch and rollout of WaterWoman Project a success.
First Quarter 2022
- In January, the Wege Foundation provided a matching grant for the WaterWoman Project of $25,000.
- In March, WaterRising Institute, in collaboration with a sustainability and DEI engagement strategy consultancy, Out of the Blue Solutions, rebirthed WaterWoman Project, a 25×25 city strategy to increase gender-inclusion in water management to accelerate progress toward UN SDGs 5 (Gender Equality), 6 (Water and Sanitation for All) and 14 (Life Under Water) by 2030. WaterRising also updated its mission and vision statements.
Second Quarter 2022
- In May, during Aspen Ideas: Climate in Miami, WaterRising hosted an ideology meeting with a former Miami-Dade Water and and Sewer Department operator and the leadership team at SUEZ Smart & Environmental Solutions North America to examine barriers for women in water management. WaterRising also met with Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava and secured SUEZ Smart & Environmental Solutions North America’s commitment as WaterWoman Project Founding Partner.
- Later in May, SUEZ Smart & Environmental Solutions North America leadership joined the WaterRising Board and worked with Out of the Blue to finalize the WaterWoman Project workforce development study and technology training program. Following the success of this collaboration, Out of the Blue joined WaterRising as a consulting advisor.
- In June, WaterRising, in collaboration with Out of the Blue, then recruited a progressive media, technology and creative agency, Five59 Labs, to join WaterRising as a consulting advisor.
- By the end of June, Out of the Blue Solutions and Five59 Labs collaborated to develop, build out and launch WaterWoman Project’s comprehensive engagement platform.
Third Quarter 2022
- In July, with the support of SUEZ Smart & Environmental Solutions North America, WaterRising secured Xylem as a second Founding Partner of the WaterWoman Project.
- In August, in collaboration with Out of the Blue Solutions and Five59 Labs, and with Founding Partners SUEZ and Xylem, WaterRising unveiled WaterWoman Project at World Water Week in Stockholm, Sweden. The rollout included a First Annual WaterWoman Dinner to kick off the summit, hosting over 80 global dignitaries from the Women in Water Diplomacy, World Bank Water’s Group Director, CEO Water Mandate, and others, and announced that 2023 will be the Year of Gender. WaterRising also launched its WaterWoman Table thought leadership series on the need for gender inclusion in workforce development for modernizing water management.
- In September, WaterWoman Project and The Gates Foundation engaged on Gender, Women and Water Careers at World Water Congress in Copenhagen.
- Soon after, WaterRising released its WaterWoman Project Explainer video, a co-production of Five59 Labs and Out of the Blue Solutions.
- Later in September, WaterWoman Project attends Stands Up for Gender at Clinton Global Initiative during UNGA in NYC.
Fourth Quarter 2022
- In October, WaterRising’s WaterWoman Project hosted WaterWoman Tables with some of the country’s top DEI leaders in water utility operations during WEFTEC. WaterRising’s all-women delegation then met with World Environment Federation leadership to secure commitment to the WaterWoman Project. The delegation then met with Madam Mayor Cantrell and City of New Orleans Water and Sewer Director Ghassan Korban, who committed to the WaterWoman workforce digital training program, along with the WaterWoman 25×25 plan.
- On October 27, WaterRising Institute, in collaboration with Out of the Blue Solutions and Five59 Labs, held its first WaterWoman Project Study Strategy Meeting, hosted at World Environment Federation in Alexandria, Virginia, to map out a preliminary plan for designing the study. WaterRising was joined by a coalition of utility operators, industry, technology, HR, World Bank Water, and others.
- On the last days of October, at the C40 Cities World Mayors Summit in Buenos Aires, WaterRising met with the mayors of Los Angeles and Miami-Dade County about joining New Orleans Mayor Cantrell for the 25×25 plan to prioritize water and gender in policy. WaterRising also met with Grundfos CEO HP Nanda along with Global Director Morten Rilis to discuss commitment to gender parity in 2023 through the C40 Cities/Grundfos Water Safe Cities initiative.
- In November, WaterRising released its UN 2023 Water Conference Trailer video, a co-production of Five59 Labs and Out of the Blue Solutions. Waterrising also recruited Pam Elardo, a 40-year water utility veteran, to lead design development of the WaterWoman Project Study and Training Initiative.
- Later in November at COP27 Sharm el Sheikh, WaterRising Institute took a stand for gender parity in global policy to spotlight the scarcity of women among conveners by hosting several partnership discussions with leaders from The Netherlands, Middle East and UN Water.
- In December, WaterRising welcomed new Board members.
