Water and Sanitation Gender Strategy (2018 - 2022).

This Water and Sanitation Gender Strategy (2018 - 2022) is a sectoral policy document at national level. The Vision of the Strategy is: “An environment where men, women and vulnerable groups are empowered to access and manage water resources in an integrated, equitable and sustainable manner”. The overall goal of the WSGS is to empower men, women, boys, girls and vulnerable groups through ensuring equity in access to and control of resources in the water and sanitation sub-sector, contributing to poverty reduction. The strategic objectives that will facilitate the achievement of the overall goal of the WSGS III include: (i) Gender integration in policy, guidelines, plans and budgets. (ii) Capacity enhancement and promotion of a gender-sensitive work environment (iii) Economic empowerment through equitable access to and control of water resources, supply, sanitation and hygiene (iv) Gender documentation, reporting and monitoring (v) Gender coordination, partnership and Networking.
In the water and sanitation sub-sector, women and children are the most affected by lack of sanitation and inadequate safe water supply. With about 55% of the time spent on collecting water daily, women and girls are the major water collectors, users and managers in homes, major promoters of household and community sanitation activities. Poor sanitary facilities or lack of them puts women and children at a high risk of contracting water related diseases like diarrhea, dysentery and cholera. The WSGS considers that the success and effective use of water and sanitation facilities therefore depends on the involvement of women and men, boys and girls in selecting the location and technology of such facilities, and taking responsibility for management, operation and maintenance.
The WSGS promotes increased agricultural production in an socially equitable manner. The key activities include: (i) Rehabilitate and build new valley dams, tanks and mini solar powered irrigation schemes to increase farmers’ production. (ii) Introduce Water troughs on all valley dams/ tanks and irrigation schemes designs in the cattle corridor for small scale livestock farmer; etc.
The key activities recommended in the document also contribute to poverty reduction. In particular, the WSGS promotes to ensure that all water supply and sanitation contracts include a clause on sensitization of the beneficiary community about HIV/AIDS, sexual and reproductive health, gender and sexual exploitation.