Virginia Molose
Virginia Molose is a Programme Manager at the Water Research Commission responsible for water and society portfolio. Amongst others she has managed the Multiple Use Water Service (MUS) project and Giyani Local Scale Climate Resilience Programme (GLSCRP). Both focused on strengthening models for alternative water supply, water and energy mix to strengthen rural communities’ resilience to climate change in a manner that is time and cost effective and ensures sustainable access to water services. Virginia has also led the Women in Water Empowerment Programme which aimed at supporting female entrepreneurs and professionals in the water sector to run sustainable enterprises and take up opportunities which support the Department to achieve its mandate.
Virginia has carried the passion of supporting marginalised and rural women throughout her career having started as a gender fieldworker in the land sector where she worked as a gender activist on programmes focusing on strengthening women’s capacities to understand the then land reform policies and women’s rights and responsibilities in that regard. As part of her role Virginia also supported women on farms to lodge land claims, negotiate better living and working conditions and recognition as adults in law. She worked in the civil society sector for some time and broadened her experience and skills to include livelihoods and rights-based approaches and acquiring qualifications as a registered facilitator and moderator.
Virginia joined the water sector in 2003 where she has remained making contribution in research, served in strategic sector committees and training, skills development and capacity building in health and hygiene promotion, user education and use of participatory methodologies. She has made contributions to key sector policy review processes, written, and disseminated policy advocacy articles and presented research papers at various national and international workshops and conferences. Virginia holds a B.A degree in Humanities and finalising research towards MPhil (IWRM) with nearly thirty years working experience in the development sector and mainly in the water and sanitation sector.