Florence Adongo: Championing equity and women’s perspectives in water management

Adongo demonstrated her strong determination already as a small child. Despite suffering an illness that left her with a physical disability at the age of two, she defied her physical limitations and did everything other children did. With one exception: she was unable to fetch and carry water long distances, as women and girls traditionally do in rural settings in her country. She overcame her challenges and strived to improve her future and that of other women. She resolved to address the problem of quality, quantity and access to water, a quest that shaped her career.

“I told myself, if there is any way that I could change my life in the future, I need to address the issue of water,” Adongo said. “If I could, I would bring water close, for my mother and for myself to make life better.”

Adongo arrived at IHE Delft in 1995 to follow a Post-Graduate Interdisciplinary Course in Water and Environmental Management and an MSc in Water and Environmental Resource Management. She was also a student representative for her course, a position that allowed her to participate in international meetings related to Wetlands International.

“Representing IHE Delft at Wetlands International meetings gave me invaluable exposure, knowledge, confidence and decision-making skills. It contributed profoundly to shaping career,” she said. It also formed the basis of her thesis “Phosphorus   Removal   Efficacy   of   Phragmites mauritianus (Kunth) in Constructed Wetlands, Jinja, Uganda”

By 2001, Adongo became Uganda’s first female senior manager in water resources. She challenged her male colleagues, saying it is not right when men alone take decisions on water infrastructure that affect the lives of women and girls.

“When I joined the sector, I brought the women’s perspective into discussions,” she said. “At times, I challenged the men by asking questions on the walking distance of 1.5 kilometre to water points. ‘Who among you carry water on the head? Have you ever carried a 20-litre container on head for 1.5 kilometres’ to appreciate what women go through.”

This led to real change. At the time, Uganda aimed to provide water within 1.5 km walking distance. This target was initially lowered to 1 km, and then, to 500 meters in 2020. And it could be reduced further. These reforms save women and girls time, enabling them to pursue education and more productive work.

The Directorate of Water Resources Management became the largest at the Ministry for Water Resources. Adongo established regional offices based on hydrological zones. This decentralized approach increased local stakeholder involvement and advanced catchment-based integrated water resources management. Her work highlighted the importance of restoring catchments, planting trees, and protecting wetlands. In 2024, Uganda officially designated all wetlands as protected areas, recognizing their critical role in water storage and climate resilience.

Under her leadership, the directorate facilitated the establishment of the Water Resources Institute, in 2018, to share knowledge among local stakeholders. Her leadership has supported training and mentorship programmes for young women, improving gender balance across the water sector. She also facilitated joint planning and resource mobilization for investment projects, with over 80 initiatives in the pipeline, valued at more than €6 billion.

Adongo’s tenure as Executive Director of the Nile Basin Initiative Secretariat has been marked by efforts to improve gender inclusivity and foster transboundary cooperation. The initiative, founded in 1999 by 10 Nile Basin countries, aims for sustainable development through equitable use of shared water resources.

On International Women’s Day 2024, Adongo received the Women in Water Diplomacy Network’s recognition for her contributions to water and peace. She was also honoured with the Presidential Diamond Jubilee Award on the same day.

“Sometimes I get overwhelmed by the recognition I receive, because when I'm given responsibility, I always want to do it to the best of my ability and deliver results with a difference,” says Adongo.

Adongo’s leadership in water diplomacy serves as an inspiration for women to take up roles in peacebuilding and environmental management. She believes women’s unique perspectives are essential in shaping policies and strategies for water and environment.

“The sector surely requires more women,” she emphasized that women interact more closely with water and the environment—whether in gardens, water collection points, or caring for sick family members, often due to water-related illnesses. “Women must have opportunities to influence decisions that affect their lives and communities.”