This talk focuses on the governing processes used to ensure women and girls’ gendered access to safe water sources as a means to reduce poverty and to strengthen gender equality. Many African states have taken on gender mainstreaming as a means to ensure such gendered access, as part of their commitment to the gender protocols of the African Ministers’ Council On Water (AMCOW). The findings of a continent wide study, which examines the extent of and commitment to gender mainstreaming as a governance tool, in water policies across the African continent will be shared. The findings indicate that such governing processes need to be monitored to ensure effective implementation. Formulation of a gender mainstreaming measure that allows assessment of the extent of country wide commitments to gender mainstreaming as well as the tensions and gaps in its implementation will also be discussed. The WGD program has sponsored a discussion series for the past several years, giving students and professionals an opportunity to share their research and discuss issues of Women and Gender in International Development. Students, faculty, staff and members of the community are encouraged to attend the discussions and bring their ideas and questions.