A Better World - Volume 3: Ensure Access to Water and Sanitation for All

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hygiene promotion for men was conducted, after which ‘tea

stall meetings’ for men were initiated with great success.

To create an enabling environment and ensure sustain-

ability, BRAC WASH helped build capacity with targeted

community members, including sanitation entrepreneurs,

members of the local government and local elites. Even

though women do not constitute a large proportion of these

groups, BRAC WASH was as inclusive as possible. Continued

empowerment of women is still needed, for example, a more

insistent encouragement of female entrepreneurs.

The VWCs, on the other hand, have exemplified the

improvement of gender relations and the degree to which

women can be empowered. Each committee is made up of

eleven members – six women and five men – and has the

mandate to assess the water and sanitation conditions of the

village and identify issues. One man and one woman from

each committee is given leadership training. The VWC is also

responsible for identifying poor and ultra poor households

that need financial support.

A more detailed look at women’s participation shows very

encouraging results, with a large proportion of VWCs having

female members who speak out and participate in decision-

making. The success of the VWC indicates positive social

progress in a relatively short time span.

Pond sand filter

Iron removal plant at a school

Image: BRAC WASH

Piped water supply system

Latrine use by houshold member

100

Areas with

8 years of

intervention

Areas with

3 years of

intervention

Areas with

1.5 years of

intervention

32%

22%

25%

65%

76%

63%

Benchmark + men and adolescent boys use the latrine +

faeces of infants/elderly/disabled end up in the toilet

Source: BRAC WASH

Nobody in the household uses the latrine for defecation or urination

Women and adolescent girls use the latrine

Benchmark + women and adolescent girls +

children aged 6 and above use the latrine

Benchmark + men and adolescent boys use the latrine