Sanitation Learning Hub and Water for Women launch GESI self-assessment tool globally

On Thursday, 17th March, the Sanitation Learning Hub (SLH), Water for Women and partners came together to share insights and experience during the Self-assessment Tool for Improved Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI) webinar.

This event introduced participants from around the globe to the Towards Transformation in WASH GESI Self-assessment Tool (SAT) - a guide for reflecting on your practice to strengthen gender equality and social inclusion in WASH programming and research, as well as in your organisation.

The SAT tool provides practical support to anyone working on WASH implementation or research that wants to improve GESI policy and practice. Its main purpose is to support individual and collective reflection on the extent and quality of GESI work currently in your WASH programme, research and/or organisation. This is followed by a process of setting new GESI goals based on these reflections.

Along with our Sanitation Learning Hub colleagues, we were pleased to be joined by some South Asia Water for Women partners who have used the SAT tool and were able to share insights from their own journey of improving their organisations GESI policy and practice. This included Proshanto Roy, Hasina Ferdows (World Vision Bangladesh), Ravie Kiran and Juhi Jain (Centre for Advocacy and Research, India) and Tshering Choden (formerly with SNV Bhutan) – thank you to our partners for the richness of experience you brought to the event and the panel. We are excited to share this resource and learning with the wider WASH sector!

Watch the full session

 Access the presentation

More about the SAT

The Gender Equality and Social Inclusion Self-Assessment Tool (GESI SAT) is a living resource and represents the culmination of years of collaborative work across the Fund, and has been co-created by Water for Women and the Sanitation Learning Hub, which is now available to the wider sector for their own use.

It is a facilitation guide for WASH project managers, researchers and self-assessment facilitators to support individual and collective reflective practice on the extent and quality of gender equality and social inclusion work in WASH projects and organisations.

Aimed at program managers, GESI advisers, researchers and members of staff who are interested in improving GESI practice, the self-assessment process will help review and identify specific, context-appropriate approaches and strategies that will support GESI transformative practice and outcomes for WASH implementation and research projects, and within organisations.

The GESI SAT includes a step-by-step process and practical appendices, including printable and editable participant worksheets and templates for summarising workshop outcomes, evaluating the self-assessment process for continual improvement, and developing a GESI Action Plan,

Why the SAT?

An intentional focus on GESI is key to sustainable and effective WASH projects. A central commitment to the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including SDG 6 - clean water and sanitation for all - is to “leave no one behind.” Key to this concept is the importance of prioritising actions that benefit and empower women - in all their diversities - the poorest, people with disabilities, sexual and gender minorities and the most marginalised people in communities.

Therefore, as WASH and development practitioners, we have a responsibility to make sure we continue to improve GESI practice. Furthermore, WASH projects are a critical entry point for promoting equity and leadership for women in all their diversities and marginalised groups more broadly.