Putting a Gender lens on Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Practice

The integration of gender in water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) is a key objective in KCC ’s WASH programming. This has led to the development of a WASH Strategic Plan for Kadoma City which incorporates GESI as a cross cutting issue.

In 2013 Zimbabwe made a landmark decision to recognize the Bill of Rights which includes the right to water and Sanitation. This was expressed through the Constitution of Zimbabwe Act no 20 of 2013. The bill of rights resonated with the United Nations (UN) General Assembly (2010) which recognises the human rights on safe water and sanitation supplies.

Kadoma City Council in conjunction with its partners carried out the Gender analysis of WASH facilities in the city of Kadoma. It was realised that there were large disparities in assessing WASH services as compared to men. The project also revealed that socially excluded groups such as the elderly, chronically ill and people living with disabilities had limited access to WASH services. In a bid to solve the challenges faced by these groups, Kadoma City embarked on this project

This is the best practice in that it contributes to Article 26.c of the Gender Protocol advocates for the provision of hygiene and sanitary facilities to women including those in prisons.