Gender Aspects in Humanitarian Sanitation and Faecal Sludge Management (FSM)

Humanitarian crises affect girls, boys, women, men, and people with diverse SOGIESC differently. This topic sheet is designed to enhance gender equality in sanitation and Faecal Sludge Management (FSM) during emergencies. This resource provides a concise overview of approaches for gender integration in humanitarian sanitation projects, ranging from gender-sensitive to gender-responsive and ultimately gender-transformative. This sheet is accompanied by a checklist that contains more specific suggestions and recommendations for promoting gender equality in humanitarian sanitation and FSM projects.

Key Actions

Advancing gender equality in sanitation and FSM requires actions at 4 interconnected levels of practice:

Individual sanitation practitioners: Effective sanitation programming requires a personal commitment to gender equality from individual sanitation practitioners. Self-assessments, like Water for Women’s example, encourage people to reflect on their own biases and discriminatory attitudes, while training programs can help them learn how to address harmful gender beliefs and avoid perpetuating stereotypes.

Organisational: Historically, men have held a majority of positions in the humanitarian sector and WASH response. Humanitarian organisations should apply gender-transformative principles to their own internal practices. To address deeply ingrained gender stereotypes in humanitarian roles, organizations need models and leadership that support better gender balance in policies, strategies, programs, standards, guidelines, and the hiring and promotion of more women and minority sanitation professionals.

Programme: Gender equality and women’s empowerment should be central to programme design and budgeted for from the start. To ensure transformative outcomes, sanitation facilities and FSM services should be designed with gender analysisGender AnalysisGender analysis aims to understand the relationships between men and women, their access to resources, their activities, the constraints they face relative to each other and how this might affect sanitation programming. and monitoringMonitoringMeasures progress and checks whether a programme or intervention is working according to plan. It is the planned, systematic and continuous checking of a sanitation intervention to ensure it is doing what was intended, that allocated funds are being used effectively, that…, and accountabilityAccountabilityThe obligation to demonstrate that work has been conducted in compliance with agreed rules and standards. Sphere describes accountability as the process of using power responsibly, taking account of and being held accountable by different stakeholders and primarily those who are… mechanisms should be implemented. Using collaborative planning processes, like WASH committees, can help everyone be involved in planning, monitoringMonitoringMeasures progress and checks whether a programme or intervention is working according to plan. It is the planned, systematic and continuous checking of a sanitation intervention to ensure it is doing what was intended, that allocated funds are being used effectively, that…, and maintenance. Working with gender equality groups can help us understand the complex issues around gender norms and roles in sanitation, empowering communities to develop their own strategies for equality using participatory methods.

Setting: Long-term humanitarian sanitation and FSM interventions can serve as a way to challenge gender norms in hygiene and sanitation, addressing the underlying causes of gender inequality. This requires a transfer of power and resources to actors in the affected contexts and communities, especially to women-led civil society and gender equality movements.

Relevance/Importance

Safe, private, and accessible sanitation services, including latrines for managing menstrual hygiene and incontinence, and catering to the needs of caregivers, are a fundamental human right, even during emergencies. Despite the importance of women’s voices, social norms and gender roles often hinder women’s participationParticipationAims to empower people and involve them in decisions that affect their lives. Inclusive planning and participation are key ingredients to achieve sustainability in humanitarian interventions. They exceed consultation which involves seeking input from stakeholders. The different… in decision-making, which can result in their needs being overlooked, especially those who are older, disabled, or from minority groups (Kumar et al, 2023). Focusing on technical solutions without considering gender differences can restrict access to essential services like sanitation, making gender inequality worse. Conversely, humanitarian sanitation and FSM initiatives can advance gender equality by fostering a more balanced sanitation workforce, guaranteeing equal access to sanitation services, enabling participationParticipationAims to empower people and involve them in decisions that affect their lives. Inclusive planning and participation are key ingredients to achieve sustainability in humanitarian interventions. They exceed consultation which involves seeking input from stakeholders. The different… in sanitation-related decision-making, and redistributing domestic WASH responsibilities within households.

Overview

Approaches for gender integration in humanitarian sanitation and FSM span a continuum from gender sensitive, gender responsive to gender transformative aspects. The availability of opportunities for gender equality in humanitarian work is often determined by the phase of the emergency and the specific situation. Humanitarian sanitation actors must take action on multiple levels before, during, and after emergencies. Addressing staff mindsets and organizational change is crucial in preparation for the response. Basic sanitation needs take top priority in the first response phase, particularly during rapid onset emergencies. The range of options for gender-responsive WASH programming generally increases in later phases of humanitarian response or during longer-term interventions. The move from humanitarian to development programmes and integrated change processes (such as the humanitarian-development-peace nexus) provide the opportunity for gender transformative approaches, given the extended timeframe and sustained organizational presence.

Source: MacArthur et al., 2023

Insensitive programming: Insensitive programming is evident in sanitation facilities that lack gender separation and are installed in distant, often isolated and unprotected areas. This poses a challenge for women and girls, people with disabilities, children, and the elderly and elevates the risk of sexual violence. Gender insensitivie programmes can unintentionally strengthen negative gender expectations by relying on the unpaid or poorly compensated labour from women in areas like sanitation promotion and caregiving.

Inclusive sanitation in Cox’s Bazar: Key principles of the sector strategy The WASH Sector identified four guiding principles to promote a more inclusive strategy: 1. Put gender and inclusionInclusionThe policy and practice of ensuring equal access to opportunities and resources for those who are often excluded or marginalised. at the centre of the Government and WASH Sector’s interventions by recognising that different people face different barriers to exercise their equal rights to live in safety and with dignity 2.  Listen to and consult with recognised groups such as representatives of the communityCommunityA group of people sharing something in common. (women or disabled persons) 3. Prioritise those who face most difficulties in fulfilling their WASH needs 4. Improve effectiveness through increasing knowledge, capacity, commitment and confidence Source: Kurkowska, M. et al (2019) Dignifying sanitation services for the Rohingya refugees in Cox’s Bazar camps Rural 21

Sensitive programming To address immediate survival needs, sensitive programming prioritizes equitable access to sanitation services for girls, boys, women, men, and people with diverse SOGIESC. Programmes focus on the design of gender-sensitive sanitation technologies. As an illustration, in Somalia, CARE’s WASH team worked alongside women and girls to develop latrineLatrineA sanitation facility used for urination and defecation including a 'user interface' and an 'onsite storage pit'. Often interchangeably referred to as toilet. designs tailored to women’s specific requirements (Sheikh, 2022).

Moving from gender sensitive to gender responsive sanitation: Oxfam’s Sani Tweaks  project SaniTweaks advocates for ‘good enough’ sanitation as a priority during the first stage of first phase/rapid onset emergencies. By incorporating insights from extensive consultations, including an understanding of power dynamics, social preferences, and coping mechanisms, quality standards can be refined and improved, leading to ‘tweaks’ or adjustments in designs, materials, maintenance, and usage models. LatrineLatrineA sanitation facility used for urination and defecation including a 'user interface' and an 'onsite storage pit'. Often interchangeably referred to as toilet. use, especially by women and girls, can be increased by addressing their specific needs, including safety, privacy, accessibility, and menstrual hygiene managementMenstrual Hygiene ManagementMenstrual Hygiene Management includes the provision of adequate, appropriate and quality menstrual supplies, access to sanitation facilities to manage menstruation and access to information and education on menstruation.. Source: https://www.elrha.org/project/sani-tweaks-diffusion-for-maximum-impact-at-scale/

Responsive programming:  Gender-responsive programming can empower women to speak about their sanitation needs and work together to find solutions. Activities focus on empowering communities and households to participate in sanitation and FSM planning, maintenance, and decision-making, ensuring gender equality in WASH committee membership and leadership. By including diverse women in the sanitation workforce, gender-responsive models aim to foster decent work opportunities and income-generating possibilities for women. Training women in every sanitation job—from cleaners to engineers—would challenge gender norms, create more opportunities for women, and boost local sanitation services. View this chart for examples that show how women currently participate in the humanitarian sanitation value chainSanitation Value ChainA Sanitation Value Chain - usually referred to as Sanitation Service Chain - is defined as the combination of technologies and services that in combination manage sanitation products from their point of generation to the point of reuse or disposal. The hardware part of the….

Gender gaps in the WASH sector, South Sudan IOM and RedR UK performed the first Cluster-wide study in South Sudan to examine the gender gap in women’s participationParticipationAims to empower people and involve them in decisions that affect their lives. Inclusive planning and participation are key ingredients to achieve sustainability in humanitarian interventions. They exceed consultation which involves seeking input from stakeholders. The different… in the WASH sector. The findings show that at: • Leadership level: there are over triple the number of male managerial staff when compared to female • Technical level: no women staff within the engineering programmes • CommunityCommunityA group of people sharing something in common. level: there are 33 per cent more volunteers who are women when compared to men CommunityCommunityA group of people sharing something in common. attitudes, familial pressure, household responsibilities, violence, and lack of education all impede women’s involvement in WASH. The study reveals how institutionalized inequalities in recruitment, job classification, pay, and benefits systems limit women’s opportunities and rights in the workforce. Source: Kate Denman and Leigh-Ashley Lipscomb (2020) Closing the Gender Gap in the Humanitarian WASH Sector in South Sudan IOM

Transformative programming: There’s ongoing discussion in the humanitarian sector about the possibility of incorporating gender transformative practices into every humanitarian response and setting. While gender-sensitive practices are anticipated in the early stages, gender-responsive actions are expected in the mid-term, and gender-transformative programs are envisioned for the long term, a path towards gender-transformative change can be pursued throughout all phases of humanitarian WASH if it’s based on gender analysisGender AnalysisGender analysis aims to understand the relationships between men and women, their access to resources, their activities, the constraints they face relative to each other and how this might affect sanitation programming. and includes risk mitigation. In humanitarian situations, organizations such as Plan International, Oxfam, and CARE have recognized men as key players in creating positive change by involving them in efforts to reduce stigma surrounding menstrual health and hygieneMenstrual Health and HygieneEncompasses both menstrual hygiene management (MHM) and the systemic factors that link menstruation with health, well-being, gender equality, education, equity, empowerment, dignity, and rights. The systematic factors include accurate and timely knowledge; available, safe, and…, promoting equitable division of domestic WASH responsibilities, and implementing programs like ‘Dad’s Magic Hands’ to address gender stereotypes and encourage men’s participationParticipationAims to empower people and involve them in decisions that affect their lives. Inclusive planning and participation are key ingredients to achieve sustainability in humanitarian interventions. They exceed consultation which involves seeking input from stakeholders. The different… in shifting traditional gender roles.

Women Lead in Emergencies model The Women Lead model consists of 5 steps designed to help women in conflict-affected communities advocate for their rights and contribute to emergency preparedness, response, and recovery. The project in Uganda trained and sensitized “Role Model Men” on gender equality issues. One role model man described how a cultural exchange with other Women Lead groups had helped him question his own social norms: “In Kyangwali we were taken and observed that men there fetch water for their homes, which was different from in our culture, where a man can’t fetch water. Right now, I fetch water, even sweeping the compound, I do all. My mindset was completely transformed to be more supporting. (FGD Role Model Men, Ariaze A – Rhino Settlement, Arua, Uganda)” Source: Luisa Dietrich (2022) Women Lead In Emergencies Global Learning Evaluation Report  CARE International UK