Empowering Women to Transform the WASH Sector


As the world commemorates International Women’s Day 2025, the urgent call for gender equality in water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) takes center stage. This year’s theme, “Accelerate Action,” highlights the need for swift, decisive measures to close the gender gap in WASH services.

The Women in WASH Advocacy Network is spearheading a renewed push for action, emphasizing that while progress has been made, millions of women and girls still lack access to clean water, proper sanitation, and hygiene facilities. The consequences are severe—affecting health, education, and economic opportunities.

Women and girls bear the greatest burden of inadequate WASH services. In many communities, they spend hours fetching water, are exposed to health risks due to poor sanitation, and face barriers to menstrual hygiene management. Addressing these challenges requires faster and stronger efforts to provide sustainable WASH solutions that prioritize women’s needs.

Despite their critical role in managing household water and sanitation, women remain underrepresented in leadership and decision-making in the WASH sector. Increasing women’s participation in governance and policy development is crucial for creating more effective and sustainable solutions.

The Women in WASH Advocacy Network is urging governments, organizations, and individuals to take bold steps, including:

  • Increasing women’s representation in WASH leadership and governance
  • Investing in gender-sensitive WASH infrastructure
  • Strengthening enforcement mechanisms for safe, dignified WASH facilities
  • Boosting funding for WASH programs benefiting women and girls
  • Ensuring women’s voices shape WASH policies
  • Providing sanitation and menstrual hygiene facilities in workplaces
  • Advocating for legislative reforms mandating gender-inclusive WASH policies
  • Challenging cultural barriers that limit women’s participation in WASH decision-making

Gender equality cannot be achieved without universal access to clean water, sanitation, and hygiene. This International Women’s Day, the call is clear—beyond celebrating women, the world must empower them to lead and transform the WASH sector.

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