A Conversation with Meghna Chakkraborty – Founder of South Asia Young Women in Water

A Conversation with Meghna Chakkraborty – Founder of South Asia Young Women in Water

By Meghna Chakkraborty 23 October, 2024

There was no turning back for Chakkraborty after experiencing first-hand impacts of water scarcity in her early years. We sit down with Chakkraborty to find out more about her water story, founding of SAYWiW, advice to youth & more

Meghna Chakkraborty is a young water leader with nearly a decade of experience in the water sector. Her passion for water began in her early years, when she witnessed the firsthand impacts of water scarcity growing up in a semi-arid region. She soon realised that water wasn’t just a basic need for survival, it also had the ability to deepen economic disparities, widen the gender gap, and disproportionately affect women and marginalised communities – which ultimately led her to found South Asia Young Women in Water (SAYWiW) in 2023. We sit down with Chakkraborty to find out more about her journey in water, vision for SAYWiW, advice to youth plus more.

CWR: Thank you for sitting down with us Meghna. Water is a complex issue that’s often neglected in the global environmental and climate conversation. Despite this, what made you focus on water?

Meghna Chakkraborty (MC): Thank you for having me! Water has always been a deeply personal issue for me. I grew up in a remote small town in a semi-arid region and therefore, I saw firsthand the struggles that came with water scarcity. One of my most vivid memories was when a drought was officially declared in our region, and I watched my mother, who was born and raised in a metro city and was the wife of an officer, walk nearly a kilometer with a bucket in one hand and a pot in the other to fetch water from a nearby hand pump.

One of my most vivid memories was watching my mother, who was raised in a metro city, walk for a kilometer to fetch water during a drought …

…for me, water isn’t just a resource; it’s tied to social justice, gender equality & survival

Sometimes, I would accompany her to save her spot in the long queue for the second round, so she could quickly get another set of vessels and rush back home to finish the rest of the household chores. This experience had a profound impact on my childhood, shaping how I view water and its importance.

Seeing the daily hardships my mother went through just to provide us with water made me sensitive to the wastage of water and deeply aware of how essential water is to survival. When I decided to pursue my M.Sc. in Environmental Studies and Resource Management, it felt natural to focus on water-related subjects. I wanted to understand this vital resource better and find ways to help women whose lives are doubly challenging because of the lack of reliable water access. For me, water isn’t just a resource; it’s tied to social justice, gender equality, and survival, which is why it’s been central to my career and advocacy.

CWR: Congratulations on the one-year milestone of South Asia Young Women in Water (SAYWiW). What inspired you to kickstart this initiative?

MC: Thank you so much! Hitting the one-year mark with South Asia Young Women in Water (SAYWiW) feels both humbling and empowering.

The inspiration for SAYWiW came from several key realizations. During World Water Week in 2023, where I also met you, I connected with other young women from Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Nepal, and we discovered how similar our experiences and challenges around water were. What truly struck me was how water – a majorly shared resource in the region – had the potential to bridge divides and foster cooperation across the region.

SAYWiW is platform where young women from South Asia can lead conversations, solutions & actions

The vision behind SAYWiW is simple yet powerful: to create a platform where young women from South Asia can freely lead conversations, solutions, and actions in water management. Women are often the most affected by water challenges, but they’re also the ones closest to the solutions. I wanted SAYWiW to be a space where women can access leadership opportunities, share their knowledge, and work together to drive sustainable, inclusive water governance in South Asia.

Ultimately, the goal is to empower young women as champions of change, not just in the water sector but in broader climate resilience efforts. We believe that by giving women the tools and networks they need, we can not only address water challenges but also shift the narrative of women’s leadership in the region.

CWR: Can you share with us some of the key achievements and partnerships fostered at SAYWiW? Any exciting plans going forward?

MC: Over the past year, SAYWiW has forged several significant partnerships that have been crucial to our growth. We’ve collaborated with SHE Changes Climate and the Stronger Together! network that we were added to by GIZ and Community of Women in Water. Additionally, our partnership with the International Water Association Young Water Professional Network Nepal Chapter has strengthened regional ties, while our involvement with the World Bank Water Communities has provided us with a platform where individuals can engage directly with SAYWiW through a chat feature. We’re grateful to the World Bank for giving us this space to connect with a global audience.

Through partnerships with GIZ, IWA YWP Nepal Chapter etc., able to strengthen regional ties & facilitate critical conversations…

…next is the launch of SAWLAP, to help South Asian woman advance into leadership roles in water governance & climate-related fields

It is also through our partnership with the World Bank that we are hosting webinars as part of their ECH2O webinar series, through which we are facilitating critical conversations about youth representation from South Asia, focusing on both quality and quantity, and addressing the barriers young professionals face in the water and climate sectors.

Looking ahead, we’re all set to launch the South Asia Women Leadership Accelerator Program (SAWLAP). This initiative is specifically designed for young women from South Asia aiming to help them advance into leadership roles in water governance and climate-related fields. SAWLAP shall tackle gender bias, provide mentorship, expand access to networks, and address the structural barriers that often hold women back in these sectors.

Together, we are building a future where young women lead sustainable water management efforts across South Asia!

CWR: As someone who’s been in the water space for so long, do you think we are progressing or regressing? What are some of the biggest hurdles we still face today?

MC: If we’re talking strictly in terms of data, there are certainly upward trends in some areas of water management. Reports from UN custodian agencies like the WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme (JMP) and the UN-Water Global Analysis and Assessment of Sanitation and Drinking-Water (GLAAS) provide valuable insights into our progress on SDG 6. These reports, available on the UN-Water SDG 6 Data Portal, do show both progress and setbacks across different indicators. But when it comes to real-world impact, especially on marginalized communities, I think we’re still falling short.

Although there is an upward trend in data for water mgmt, water still remains sidelined despite its critical role in nearly every facet of energy production & sustainability

The data we gather is crucial, but it’s only part of the picture. What’s more important is whether the lives of people are truly improving as a result of the interventions in WASH management. Are we addressing the communities most affected by poor water governance, and how sustainable is the progress we’re making? That’s where I think we need to shift focus – towards measuring the human impact and ensuring that our solutions are long-lasting.

Moreover, in the broader climate change conversation, I don’t think we’re prioritizing water nearly as much as we should. While carbon and energy are central to discussions like COP, water remains sidelined despite its critical role in nearly every facet of energy production and sustainability. The energy sector alone accounts for around 10% of global freshwater withdrawals, yet water isn’t given the attention it deserves in key political forums.

We need to elevate water to a central theme in climate discussions because it’s fundamental to both life and dignity. Only when we treat water with the respect and urgency it deserves will we truly be able to claim meaningful progress in the sector.

CWR: As a young water leader, what advice would you give to individuals thinking about joining this space?

MC: As someone who works closely with young professionals in South Asia, I can say without hesitation that the biggest challenge they face in the water sector is the lack of career prospects. I’m not going to sugarcoat it! Acknowledging this reality is important because it reflects the true struggles many passionate young professionals endure while still choosing to stay in the field out of sheer dedication. However, it’s exactly because of this passion that I firmly believe we need more youth to join this space. Young people have the unique ability to bring a fresh perspective. Especially youth from grass-roots or marginalized communities can present a true picture of the sector’s challenges and opportunities. So, I would be happy to see active efforts being made to include them in the sector.

We need more young people; youth brings energy, urgency, and commitment to the table…

…ultimately, it’s not about profit or even philanthropy, it’s about long-term survival

Youth have a burning desire for change, and their involvement is crucial in shaping a future where water is prioritized as a fundamental resource. While the water sector may not be as lucrative as energy or other industries, it plays a far more vital role in securing the survival and dignity of all communities. Water is life – and it’s more than just a commodity. I hope stakeholders, especially those with influence and resources, begin to recognize that investing in water is investing in our collective future.

This is not about profit or even philanthropy; it’s about long-term survival. The youth brings energy, urgency, and commitment to the table, and I urge potential employers and investors to support their journey because the work being done today will lay the foundation for a more sustainable and equitable tomorrow.

Further readings

• Empowering Youth To Face Climate Change — Youth Climate Leaders’ Moraes & Matsuoka share a unique experience for youths to become the next generation of climate leaders
• 2023 World Water Week: 3 Key Takeaways & Personal Reflections — Back in-person at World Water Week after 5 years, CWR’s McGregor & Lam share key takeaways & reflections on the conference, for one 10 years on & the other on her first
• Youth & Water – 3 Key Takeaways from Egypt & Stockholm – China Water Risk intern Alex Whitebrook shares key takeaways from his recent trips for the World Youth Parliament for Water. See what’s on their minds

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• 3 Years at CWR – Shock, Eco-anxiety & Hope for Youth – Given the climate crisis, “eco-anxiety” feels inevitable for CWR’s youngest member Lam. But why is she still fighting & how does her generation stay positive? She shares her thoughts & reflects on her 3 years at CWR