Safe water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) are critical for human development. Gender is a major concern because women and girls are disproportionally affected by inadequate WASH services. We tend to assume that adequate facilities and infrastructure can solve gender disparities. However, technical solutions alone do not address inequalities in terms of harmful gender norms, decision-making power, or control over resources and time.

As a result, women may not have access to services that meet their needs. The Empowerment in WASH Index, EWI was created to change that. The tool is currently being developed and piloted in different cultural and geographic settings. Get in touch if you are interested in applying the EWI in your work.