The lack of safe sanitation and hygiene facilities at home puts people, especially girls and women at risk to illness, harassment and violence, hampering their ability to learn, earn an income, and move around freely.

When household members fall sick due to water-borne illnesses, it are mainly women and girls who provide the much-needed care. The disproportionate responsibility women and girls bear as primary users, providers, and managers of water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) at the household level is yet to be matched by a commensurate representation in WASH-related decision-making.

While women’s participation in water governance and the promotion of safe sanitation has long been encouraged, this engagement has not always translated into better services for themselves, and decisions on “big water” issues—such as large-scale infrastructure investments, water allocations, or water trading—remain largely gender-blind. 

In short, this issue shows how the promotion of gender-responsive water, sanitation, and hygiene can be a catalyst for change across the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. It equally provides insights into how the synergies between WASH and gender equality can be harnessed more effectively.
 
The involvement of women and girls is crucial to effective water and sanitation projects. Given the present roles of women in water and sanitation, their active involvement and empowerment is needed for water and sanitation efforts to be successful – and without further adding to their burden. Gender mainstreaming is needed to achieve gender balance and reduce the inequalities suffered by women and girls.
 
As a member of the WfWP Steering Committee I will concentrate  on Eastern Europe, and on linking projects and advocacy for SDG 5 (gender equality), 6 (clean water and sanitation) and 17 (partnerships to achieve the SDGs).  These 3 goals are important to ensure that women and girls get better educated and empowered to find employment in the water sector and through that achieve gender equality and ensure clean water, sanitation and hygiene for all.

Ulla Madsen
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