On February 19, 2026, Youth Environmental Justice and Gender Equality (YOGE), with
support from the IUCN BRIDGE Women Leadership Grants, launched the Inclusive
Freshwater Governance for Sustainable Communities Project, widely known as “Voices for
Water.”
The sixmonth initiative, implemented in Songea and Mbinga districts, seeks to strengthen
genderresponsive governance of freshwater resources while promoting conservation across the
Ruvuma Basin. Partners include the Southern Coast Water Board, TAMCODE, and the
Mbinga and Songea District Councils.
The Ruvuma Basin, lifeline to over 4 million people, provides water for fishing, farming,
domestic use, industry, and hydropower. More than a resource, it underpins food security,
resilience, and regional cooperation. Yet without inclusive governance, mounting
pressures—deforestation, unsustainable farming, and unequal access—risk degrading
ecosystems and fueling conflicts, particularly affecting women and smallholder farmers.
This project amplifies community voices, ensuring that water governance becomes a driver of
equity, sustainability, and peace across the basin.
