Gender Empowerment and Treated Wastewater Reuse in Ein Qinia Village, Ramallah - Palestine

The gender empowerment of communities and individuals in Ein Qinia village / Ramallah on the acceptance of wastewater treatment projects and treated wastewater reuse was studied. The gender acceptance was determined through whether or not trained focused women groups in treated wastewater reuse could be increased in reusing the treated wastewater in agricultural activities. Women showed a high acceptance of reusing treated wastewater for agricultural purposes after the gender awareness dialogue and training which was provided. The outcomes strengthening the importance of creating knowledge towards sustainable wastewater reuse in pre-urban areas is a strategic need for the Palestinian decision makers. A comparative study for Ramoun treated wastewater in Ramallah was carried out, showing a good empowerment image on a smaller scale than in Ein Qinia village for the acceptance of treated wastewater reuse in agriculture. It reveals that the baseline data of women's empowerment in treated wastewater reuse is identified as a critical need to create a more gender-sensitive approach for treated wastewater projects.