WOMEN IN WATER RESOURCES MANAGEMENT: CASE STUDY OF WATER USER ASSOCIATIONS IN KARASUU DISTRICT, KYRGYZSTAN

The goal of the study is to learn the level of education and participation of women in Water User Associations (WUA) of the Karasuu district and based on the results to develop recommendations for improving the role of women in WUAs. This study uses field research in five WUAs, which located in different parts of Karasuu district. Questionnaires were taken from 10 women from each WUA in order to learn the level of education of women and their participation in WUA. Based on a field research, recommendations developed to improve the role of women in WUAs. Most women in the WUA of Karasuu district are connected to the WUA through the work of family members or through their own position in the village leadership, which further increases their participation. For some, their husbands or male relatives attend meetings and therefore do not feel the need to participate themselves. Others, although interested in participating, but they did not know when and where these meetings were held. In order to promote the full participation of women, it is essential to raise public awareness of WUAs as a key player. However, questioners show that female farmers with higher education are more likely to participate in WUA meetings than women with school education.