Empowerment is a complex and multi-dimensional concept, and it is often not clear how it is defined in WASH sector programming. This scoping review explores how concepts of empowerment have been used in the WASH sector and delineates relevant empowerment dimensions.
Inequalities
Enhancing livelihoods of the urban poor through productive uses of utility-supplied water services – Evidence from Kampala, Uganda
This paper reports on a study conducted in Kampala, Uganda, which adapted the existing rural-based Multiple Use water Services (MUS) framework into a slum-specific framework. MUS is a livelihood-centred approach that is implemented in rural areas of over twenty countries, where water supply primarily designed for domestic or irrigation purposes is also used for productive uses to improve householders’ livelihoods.
Dimensions of water insecurity in pastoralist households in Kenya
Pastoralist communities in Northern Kenya face increasing water security risks attributable to disruptions in their socio-ecological environments. This study provides empirical evidence on factors behind water security and identifies factors that enhance resilience for vulnerable pastoralist communities in Samburu County.
Rethinking the economics of rural water in Africa
Rural Africa lags behind global progress to provide safe drinking water to everyone. This paper explores why rural water is different for communities, schools, and healthcare facilities across characteristics of scale, institutions, demand, and finance.
Hybrid water rights systems for pro-poor water governance in Africa
This study, based in Kenya, Malawi, South Africa, Uganda and Zimbabwe, explores the implications of permit systems for both the most vulnerable and the state, and, identifies options for pro-poor water legislation that also meet the water governance requirements of the state.
Concept mapping: Engaging stakeholders to identify factors that contribute to empowerment in the water and sanitation sector in West Africa
This study used concept mapping to uncover the meaning and key dimensions of empowerment in WASH among stakeholders in Ghana and Burkina Faso. The study was part of initial steps toward choosing indicators for developing an Empowerment in WASH Index.
Examining the economics of affordability through water diaries in Coastal Bangladesh
Monitoring affordability of drinking water services is constrained by data gaps from traditional approaches that rely on cross-sectional data from infrequent, nationally representative surveys. This research present findings from an 18-week water diary study that documented daily water choices and expenditures of a stratified sample of 120 households in coastal Bangladesh.
Empowerment in WASH Index
This brief presents the Empowerment in WASH Index (EWI), a new tool for measuring empowerment in the water, sanitation and health sector, and shows how it has been applied in Burkina Faso.
Best practice guide: developing inclusive conferences
This document is a practical ‘how-to’ guide to help conference organisers promote diversity of attendance and inclusivity of participation at events.
A social-ecological analysis of drinking water risks in coastal Bangladesh
Groundwater resources in deltaic regions are vulnerable to contamination by saline seawater, posing significant crisis for drinking water. In this paper, the authors use a social-ecological systems approach to evaluate the risks to drinking water security in one of 139 polders in coastal Bangladesh.
