Water Supply, Sanitiation and Geneder - Promotion of Developing Countries

Author

KFW

Description

In almost all societies, men and women have different roles in water issues. This is particularly the case in rural regions. In many places women and sometimes girls are responsible for carrying and storing the water for drinking and domestic use in the household. This requires a great deal of physical work and consumes a lot of time. This time cannot then be spent on other tasks or on education. Moreover, it is usually the women who decide how the water is used in the household.

Water-induced diseases hamper women in particular in the exercise of their role as the caretakers of sick family members. On the other hand, urban water supply and sanitation companies employ mostly men as engineers, operations managers and technicians. Decisions regarding water supply and waste water removal technologies, locations of wells and operating and maintenance systems are usually taken by men as well.

Publication date

2008

Document type

Position Paper

Language(s)

English

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