Kanwal Waqar

Deputy Country Representative - Pakistan and Regional Researcher - Gender and Social Inclusion Specialist


Kanwal Waqar is a dynamic and proactive researcher, institutional and capacity development practitioner with overall thirteen years’ experience of working with national and international organizations on gender mainstreaming, social inclusion and climate change. She is a highly skilled and knowledgeable gender and water expert with a strong background in promoting gender equality and social inclusion in water resource management. Waqar is adept at conducting gender analysis, developing gender-responsive strategies and providing technical assistance to ensure gender mainstreaming in the water sector. She is an excellent communicator and collaborator, dedicated to advancing gender equality and empowering marginalized communities. Waqar is proficient in conducting participatory research and qualitative assessments to identify gender disparities and inform evidence-based interventions in water resource management and climate resilience. She is committed to continuous professional development, actively engaged in knowledge exchange forums, and contributing to academic publications and policy dialogues on gender and water governance. Waqar seeks innovative solutions and leveraging technology to enhance the effectiveness and sustainability of gender-inclusive interventions in the water sector. 


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Latest news for Kanwal Waqar

Women’s safety is a prerequisite for water security

Violence keeps women out of vital water decisions. For stronger water governance and genuine progress on equality, women’s safety must come first ...

Equity and inclusion must guide water solutions

At the 2025 CGIAR Gender Conference, IWMI underscored that the future of water security depends on scaling equity as effectively as climate-smart innovation ...

Young people are reimagining irrigation with innovation, inclusion and equality at its core

At the 4th World Irrigation Forum, Mark Smith, director general of IWMI, reflected that making irrigation truly “future-fit” requires listening to young people ...

Can Pakistan turn recurring monsoon chaos into long-term water security?

As Pakistan braces for another intense monsoon, the crisis presents both a stark warning and a rare opportunity — underscoring the urgent need for smarter water governance, local action and ...

Pakistan looks beyond drought with innovation turning crisis into hope

Smarter water use and inclusive planning are critical as the country finds new ways to manage water and protect vulnerable communities ...

The hidden crisis of disaster displacement and host community struggles in rural areas of Pakistan

While disaster-induced migration tends to be short-term, slow-onset climate-induced migration may be more permanent and on a larger scale ...

Digital inequality – A challenge to climate risk responses in Pakistan?

In a flood emergency, access to the ‘digital ecosystem’ provided by mobile devices can be critical for individual safety, but not everyone has equal access ...

IWMI trains water resource management practitioners on effective ways to promote equality and inclusion

Participants learned how different dimensions of a person’s identity interact with structural inequalities to impact access to and benefits from water resources and services ...

Latest publications by Kanwal Waqar

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Opinion Piece

Rethinking water user associations to enhance women’s participation

The Australia Today | November 10th, 2025
Fanaian, Safa; Bhattacharjee, Suchiradipta; Waqar, Kanwal; KC, Sumitra
Open Access
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Brief

Bridging the gap: gender-inclusive policies for a sustainable water future in Pakistan

International Water management Institute | May 15th, 2025
Waqar, Kanwal; Hafeez, Mohsin
Open Access

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Languages

English, Urdu, Punjabi

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