As the world marks World Water Day, the conversation around Water and Gender brings to light a critical issue, access to water is not just a development challenge, but a gender issue that directly affects the productivity, health, and economic empowerment of women.
In Ghana, where women play a vital role in agriculture, access to clean and reliable water remains a persistent challenge. From irrigation to household use, women and girls often bear the responsibility of sourcing water, time that could otherwise be invested in productive and income-generating activities.
Amid these challenges, innovation is creating new pathways for change.
One such innovation is being driven by Velho Carbons Ltd., a Ghanaian agritech startup mentored through the Kosmos Innovation Center Agritech Challenge. Co-founded by Dr. Erastus Mak-Mensah, the company is transforming agricultural waste into activated carbon used for eco-friendly water filtration systems.
These solutions are improving water quality for irrigation, enabling farmers, particularly women, to grow healthier crops while reducing exposure to unsafe water. By addressing both environmental sustainability and water access, Velho Carbons is helping to ease the burden on women and strengthen their role within the agricultural value chain.
This innovation is part of a broader story.
For the past decade, Kosmos Innovation Center has been at the forefront of nurturing young entrepreneurs and supporting agribusiness innovations across Ghana. Through initiatives like the Agritech Challenge Pro, KIC has provided mentorship, funding opportunities, and capacity-building support to startups that are solving real challenges within the agricultural ecosystem.
As KIC marks 10 years of impact, stories like Velho Carbons highlight the power of investing in local innovation to drive sustainable development. By supporting startups that address critical issues such as water management, KIC continues to contribute to building resilient agricultural systems that work for everyone, especially women.
Water, in this context, becomes more than a resource. It becomes a tool for empowerment.
When women have access to clean and reliable water, they are better positioned to increase productivity, improve their livelihoods, and contribute meaningfully to their communities. Reducing the time and effort spent on water collection opens opportunities for education, entrepreneurship, and leadership.
“As we reflect on World Water Day, the call to action is clear: more support is needed for innovations that address water challenges through a gender lens. Strengthening partnerships between institutions, startups, and communities will be key to scaling solutions that are both inclusive and sustainable and KIC is ready to partner others to support more solutions like Velho Carbon.” Benjamin Gyan – Kesse, Exec.Dir.KIC
The next decade must build on the foundation already laid, one where women are not just beneficiaries of water solutions, but active drivers of change within the agricultural sector.
Because when innovation meets inclusion, impact is inevitable.