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<p>The impact of poor water quality, often shaped by the complex multidimensional intersections of gender inequalities, cultural contexts, and economic realities, is not experienced uniformly. This study examines how these dimensions interact with drinking water quality, highlighting uneven impacts across the Global South. Using a weighted average, the Water Quality Vulnerability Index (WQVI) was developed from the Drinking Water Safety Index, the International Wealth Index, and the Gender Inequality Index to assess vulnerability to changes in water quality. The WQVI highlights significant regional disparities, with Europe’s developing countries being the least vulnerable, followed by countries in South America, Asia, Central America, the Caribbean, the Pacific Islands, and Africa. Over half (54%) of the 138 countries in the Global South fall below the preferred normalized DWSI threshold, and 61% face combined socioeconomic and water security challenges, affecting approximately 2&#xa0;billion people. The study reveals heterogeneous vulnerabilities, even among economies with similar classifications, demonstrating that economic prosperity alone does not guarantee better drinking water safety or gender equality outcomes. Furthermore, high-income economies also exhibit varied WQVI performance, highlighting the impact of non-economic factors. These findings call for a paradigm shift in water management and gender equality approaches, emphasizing their interconnectedness and the need for a holistic, integrated quantitative strategy to address these challenges effectively.</p>

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Unpacking the water-wealth-gender nexus: an integrated vulnerability approach

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2026年2月16日

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  • Grace Oluwasanya,
  • Ayodetimi Omoniyi,
  • Mir Matin,
  • Afolashade Bankole,
  • Manzoor Qadir,
  • Kaveh Madani

摘要

The impact of poor water quality, often shaped by the complex multidimensional intersections of gender inequalities, cultural contexts, and economic realities, is not experienced uniformly. This study examines how these dimensions interact with drinking water quality, highlighting uneven impacts across the Global South. Using a weighted average, the Water Quality Vulnerability Index (WQVI) was developed from the Drinking Water Safety Index, the International Wealth Index, and the Gender Inequality Index to assess vulnerability to changes in water quality. The WQVI highlights significant regional disparities, with Europe’s developing countries being the least vulnerable, followed by countries in South America, Asia, Central America, the Caribbean, the Pacific Islands, and Africa. Over half (54%) of the 138 countries in the Global South fall below the preferred normalized DWSI threshold, and 61% face combined socioeconomic and water security challenges, affecting approximately 2 billion people. The study reveals heterogeneous vulnerabilities, even among economies with similar classifications, demonstrating that economic prosperity alone does not guarantee better drinking water safety or gender equality outcomes. Furthermore, high-income economies also exhibit varied WQVI performance, highlighting the impact of non-economic factors. These findings call for a paradigm shift in water management and gender equality approaches, emphasizing their interconnectedness and the need for a holistic, integrated quantitative strategy to address these challenges effectively.