Assessing the importance of gender transformative WASH: evidence from a gender-mainstreamed WASH programme in Bangladesh

Abstract

Water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) services are crucial for gender equality but their gender-transformative potential has received less attention in terms of intervention design and evaluation. We compared empowerment levels among participants in a gender-transformative WASH programme in Satkhira, Bangladesh which integrated components such as household decision-making and social norms, to non-participants using the Empowerment in WASH Index. Women participants had higher empowerment than all other groups, including men in both areas. The results show the potential of gender transformative WASH approaches to not only achieve targeted improvements in WASH but also make meaningful and measurable contributions to gender equality.