Shehersaaz

Empowering Communities: Highlights from the "Women and Water" Dialogue.

On July 14, 2026, Shehersaaz convened "Dialogue 1: Women and Water" at Fatima Jinnah Women University (FJWU), Rawalpindi.

This milestone event was organized under Shehersaaz’s Project for Urban Climate Change Adaptation and Resilience (PUCCAR)—a climate resilience initiative designed to strengthen the adaptive capacity of urban communities in Rawalpindi and Nowshera.

The session featured deep-dive discussions on reshaping water management through an inclusive, gender-sensitive lens.

Key Discussion Pillars:

Addressing the Data Gap: Participants highlighted the urgent need for gender-disaggregated data to fully understand and resolve the water challenges faced by women and marginalized groups.

Inclusive Water Governance: Discussions emphasized that while women are the primary managers of household water, they are often excluded from decision-making. True resilience requires putting women at the center of governance.

Urban Water Management: Rapid urbanization is depleting groundwater. The dialogue called for localized solutions, including smart water technologies and rainwater harvesting.

A Holistic Nexus: Addressing water, food, and energy systems together, rather than in silos, through strong collaborations between government institutions (like WAPDA), academia, and civil society.

🔗 Follow Shehersaaz for more updates on PUCCAR initiatives.

Every sustainable solution is stronger when powered by clean energy.

Under the PROGRESSIVE Project, Shehersaaz is installing solar-powered battery systems at government schools to support the continuous operation of Integrated Rainwater Harvesting Units. By harnessing renewable energy, these systems will ensure reliable water management while reducing dependence on conventional power sources.

This integrated approach demonstrates how innovation, renewable energy, and climate-smart infrastructure can work together to build resilient schools and stronger communities. Every installation is another step toward a future where water conservation and clean energy go hand in hand.

Every completed intervention brings us closer to stronger, more climate-resilient communities.

Through the PROGRESSIVE Project, Shehersaaz is implementing rainwater harvesting systems across 25 government schools in 7 Neighborhood Councils of Nowshera. While installations have already been completed in many schools, plumbing work continues in the remaining 9 schools, marking another important step toward project completion.

Once all systems are operational, these interventions will collectively benefit 9,217 students and community members while providing a rainwater harvesting capacity of 150,000 litres. This investment will support improved water management, strengthen climate adaptation, and promote sustainable practices in schools for years to come.

At Shehersaaz, climate action is more than infrastructure. It is about empowering communities with practical, long-term solutions that improve lives and build resilience for the future.