Join us on Wednesday, December 9, 2026, at 2:00 PM Gulf Standard Time (GST, UAE) for a virtual side event held in connection with the 2026 UN Water Conference in Abu Dhabi, hosted by Dr. Swani R. Keelson, Founder and CEO of Global Water Promise. WatHER Security: AI-Assisted Gerontological Mapping of Water Security for Women Aging in Place in Sub-Saharan Africa

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By 2030, an estimated 1.4 billion people worldwide will be aged 60 and older, underscoring the growing importance of aging in place and the intersection of age, gender, climate vulnerability, and access to safe water. For older women in Sub-Saharan Africa, these overlapping challenges raise critical questions about how water insecurity is measured, mapped, and addressed. This discussion introduces the application of a Vulnerability Index (VI) and Water Security Score (WSS) to examine multidimensional vulnerabilities and explore how artificial intelligence can support evidence-based interventions.

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Bringing together Dr. Keelson’s doctoral research at the Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) on gender equity and water governance with emerging AI-assisted geospatial approaches, this event aims to examine the challenges and potential solutions associated with water insecurity among women aging in place. The discussion will explore how vulnerability assessment, spatial mapping, and gender-responsive governance can inform more equitable water security policies and targeted interventions in support of Sustainable Development Goal SDG 6.