Learning Log 1: Breaking barriers for community resilience

Pisey Chea, WaterAid Australia

Water for Women is a unique program driving innovation and sharing knowledge for climate-resilient, equitable and socially inclusive WASH. By combining research and implementation, the Fund generates evidence-based practices and empowers partners to collaborate on sustainable solutions.

Our Learning Agenda is at the heart of this approach, fostering learning, knowledge exchange and collaboration among partners. In the final year of the Fund, we have set ourselves the goal of addressing an important evidence gap in climate-resilient development, collaborating to answer two overarching questions:

1. What does climate-resilient inclusive WASH development look like?

2. How does inclusive WASH contribute to climate resilience?

We recently spoke with Pisey Chea, Regional Gender Equality, Disability and Social Inclusion Advisor with WaterAid Australia, who co-leads Learning Group 1.3 and is looking at the role of gender equality, disability and social inclusion (GEDSI) in climate-resilient WASH, identifying structural barriers within WASH systems that perpetuate inequalities.

Pisey shares the group’s learning process and reflects on early findings.

Hi Pisey, what has been your role in Learning Group 1.3?

My role involves supporting the country team in embracing the GEDSI in climate resilient WASH learning agenda and overseeing the data collection process in Timor Leste. This included organising reflection sessions, which we integrated into existing staff and partner meetings. The data was collected from internal staff and our partners, with separate discussions for each group.

We used various methods, including in-depth interviews and focus group discussions with stakeholders in mixed and separate groups, depending on the context. We also conducted key informant interviews with stakeholders, local authorities, and government officials, and held participatory workshops for reflection, lessons learned, and solution discussions. In most cases, we disaggregated data by gender and disability status.

Why is GEDSI crucial for building climate-resilient WASH systems?

I think ensuring that the system delivering services to users is gender-responsive is the entry point to ensure that services meet the unique needs of all community members, contributing to sustainable and inclusive growth. By not including diverse perspectives of users, WASH service may fail to meet user needs, leading to ineffective use and, in some cases, increasing vulnerability for certain groups in the community.

It's more than just about fairness and justice; it's crucial for building resilient communities that are inclusive of all and capable of adapting and responding to the challenges of climate change. Every individual, regardless of their sex, disability, or ethnicity, deserves the right to equally benefit from development and foster harmony within the community.

It's more than just about fairness and justice; it's crucial for building resilient communities that are inclusive of all and capable of adapting and responding to the challenges of climate change

- Pisey Chea, WaterAid Australia

What are the barriers preventing people from accessing climate-resilient WASH facilities?

There are many barriers to accessing climate-resilient WASH facilities, but I'd like to highlight specific challenges faced by marginalised groups, these include:

• Lack of accessibility features, which may result from the WASH service lacking awareness of the unique needs of women and persons with disability (usually, they are male run). Alternatively, there may be awareness but reluctance to invest in inclusive design as it does not directly impact their own access.
• Cultural barriers that restrict access for women during menstruation.
• Affordability - economic constraints often prevent households, especially those in low-income communities, from affording the initial costs of installing and maintaining climate-resilient WASH infrastructure.

What specific structural changes within WASH systems are needed to break down barriers and address existing inequalities?

First, it's important to establish a robust legal framework to guide the system. Second, practitioners need to be sensitive and responsive to these issues. Third, implement gender-responsive budgeting to support the implementation. Lastly, ensure effective monitoring and evaluation.

What are the findings showing from the data your teams have collected in terms of barriers and pathways?

The findings are showing that institutional, cultural, and physical barriers are the main challenges faced by marginalised groups, including women, girls, children, and persons with disabilities. On the other hand, positive impacts have been observed through community engagement, capacity building, and empowering rightsholder groups in local development.

How is Water for Women's Learning Agenda guiding research to achieve climate-resilient WASH for all?

I believe the Learning Agenda is a catalyst for fostering reflection among stakeholders to examine the intersection of GEDSI and climate change, encouraging practitioners to consider these aspects holistically. It also enables stakeholders to recognise the most excluded groups and understand the specific barriers they face in accessing WASH services in a climate change context. This ensures that WASH interventions address the diverse needs and challenges of different groups, leading to more sustainable outcomes.

Additionally, the Learning Agenda facilitates knowledge exchange by enabling discussions about practitioners' best practices and lessons learned, which help identify models for replication or scaling to contribute to transformational changes.