Water and Women’s Empowerment in Zimbabwe

Water and Women’s Empowerment in Zimbabwe

Study

A six-week field project exploring how water collection responsibilities shape rural Zimbabwean women’s health, time, and economic empowerment. This study was nested within a larger initiative by Emory University and World Vision under the Strong Women Strong World program.

🔍 Methods

• Go-along interviews

• Smartwatch tracking

• Observational field notes

• Participatory training + local data collector collaboration

💼 This project served as both my Applied Practice Experience and MPH Thesis at Emory.

My Role

🧰Field Preparation and Capacity Building

• Developed tailored training materials on mixed-methods research, ethics, and data tools

• Delivered 5-day participatory training for local data collectors

• Co-led usability testing and IRB submissions

• Provided remote refresher training to field partners upon return to US

🤝Coordination and Implementation

• Managed logistics and data debriefs with field partners

• Led data quality assurance and management

📚Data Exploration, Analysis, and Manuscript Development

• Conducted thematic analysis in MAXQDA using close reading, analysis memos, and qualitative coding

• Maintained a reflexive journal to document insights, positionality, and evolving perspectives

• Calculated descriptive statistics to support interpretation of quantitative variables

• Developed a thesis manuscript exploring rural Zimbabwean women’s water collection experiences through the lens of feminist political ecology and uncovering the intersection of gender, labor, and resource access.

Partners

Student Funding Awards

1. Deborah McFarland Fund for Global Field Experience by Rollins School of Health, Emory University – 2023.

2. Applied Practice Experience Award by Emory Maternal and Child Health Center of Excellence – 2023.

Resources