Water is one of the planet’s most precious resources and access to an adequate and safe supply of water for personal and domestic consumption is a fundamental human right. However, almost one-sixth of the world’s population lacks access to it. Among the groups most affected by this are women, due to the predominant role they must take on in some societies to ensure the collection and distribution of water, and indigenous peoples, who often have limited access to quality sanitation services.
Women: central to water management
The strong link between women and the provision of water and sanitation services is related to the family unit. Women are often the ones who take care of domestic chores and, when access is limited or non-existent, they bear most of the responsibility to provide it for the household (64% compared to 24% for men, 8% for girls and 4% for boys). Worldwide, it is estimated that women and girls spend more than 125 million hours a day collecting water in containers of up to 20 kg.
According to a study by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) within the framework of the Small Rural Communities Program in Bolivia, adult women carry water for drinking and cooking practically every day, making an average of 2.2 trips per day.
In spite of this, the female population faces numerous obstacles to participate in decision making about water management due to the reproduction of traditional roles and the undervaluation of women in organizations. In fact, women represent only 19.7% of the workforce in the water sector in Latin America.
Some studies have shown that water and sanitation projects are more sustainable and effective when women are involved. In addition, the UNHCR report “Human Rights to Safe Drinking Water and Sanitation of Indigenous Peoples: State of Affairs and Lessons from Ancestral Cultures” points out the importance of guaranteeing the participation of indigenous women in debating and making decisions about issues related to drinking water and sanitation, as well as ensuring they have their own spaces for deliberation and elaboration of proposals.
For all of the above, it is crucial to promote female participation in the processes of consultation, planning, training and decision-making. This can be achieved through the formulation of policies, such as those included in the “Report on progress towards the fulfillment of the human right to water and sanitation in Bolivia in order to live well“. In it, emphasis is placed on the need to work with a gender lens (especially with a focus on equity) on issues related to access and decision-making in the area of water and sanitation.
Indigenous peoples: limited access to sanitation services
On the other hand, we must address the existing disparities in the coverage of water and sanitation services between indigenous and non-indigenous peoples, due to factors such as the dispersion of the rural population, deficient road networks, insufficient access to quality social services and the lack of cultural relevance in their delivery.
In Bolivia, although significant progress has been made in access to basic services, it is still not enough. In 2022, 94% of urban areas had access to water and 71% to sanitation services, while in rural areas only 69% had access to water and 45% to sanitation services. These gaps have a direct impact on the presence of communicable diseases and affect people’s quality of life.
How to improve the quality of and access to water and sanitation infrastructure in indigenous communities? The IDB’s Gender and Diversity Sector Framework states that a process of participation, consultation and intercultural dialogue is required to ensure that such infrastructure is in line with the needs and expectations of these peoples, promoting the incorporation of traditional knowledge, attitudes and practices related to the elements and services to be introduced in the projects.
An inclusive approach for greater sustainability
Promoting the active participation of women and indigenous communities in water and sanitation issues is essential to design projects that respond to the needs of users and do not increase the vulnerability of these populations. To achieve this, we can begin by generating processes of participation, consultation and intercultural dialogue in which women (particularly indigenous and rural women) play a leading role in planning and decision-making.
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