Barbara Van Koppen

Barbara van Koppen (PhD) is Principal Researcher on Poverty, Gender, and Water in the International Water Management Institute, based in the IWMI Southern Africa office in Pretoria. She leads multi-country research in Africa and Asia on community-driven water service delivery and water laws and policies reform, also from a human rights perspective.

Content authored by Barbara Van Koppen

Blog Post
Blog Post
July 23, 2019
As water systems fail across South Africa, rural communities look to self-supply
Originally published on the Daily Maverick: About half of municipal wastewater and water treatment works across South Africa are in a poor or critical condition. Many need urgent rehabilitation, and 11% are dysfunctional. Over three million people still do not have access to a basic water supply service. Self-supply in partnership with government could be the answer.
Big Question: Responses
March 07, 2018
Rural women are not all the same, but their need for better rights is nearly universal
We need global actions to achieve rural women’s rights. These include the rights to land, water and other productive resources; food sovereignty and nutritional empowerment; adequate standard of living and social protection.
- Barbara Van Koppen
Big Question: Responses
March 13, 2016
Gender and water: what about rights?
If we see water as a UN endorsed human right rather than just as a technical or institutional issue, then what questions are raised by examining ‘sufficient access to water for both essential domestic and productive water uses’?
- Barbara Van Koppen
Big Question: Responses
January 18, 2016
Land rights and productivity in matrilineal societies
Matrilineal societies are widespread in Southern Africa. But what happens in them? Is there equal access to land between the sexes? What are incentives for women and men to invest in higher land productivity?
Blog Post
Blog Post
September 01, 2014
Who is accountable?
Multiple use water services takes domestic and non-domestic water needs as a starting point for the planning and provision of water services, holding the water sector accountable for all uses.
- Barbara Van Koppen