Transformative leadership initiative empowers women and people with disabilities in Bhutan

A Health Assistant in Goshing, Zhemgang, visits elderly citizens at their home (SNV Bhutan)

Leadership qualities have been put to the test by the COVID-19 pandemic, and with the reality of climate change, the impacts of these crises are only expected to be magnified. It is widely agreed that safeguarding access to water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) is paramount, as we face the challenges of our changing climate.

Recognising the need for inclusive and transformative leadership in the WASH sector, an innovative research initiative to scale-up and consolidate leadership initiatives championed by SNV has been undertaken in Bhutan. The Transformative Leadership for Inclusive WASH in a Post-COVID World project, supported by the Australian Government through a Water for Women Innovation and Impact (I&I) grant, involved partnership with the Royal Government of Bhutan, Bhutanese Network for Empowering Women (BNEW), Ability Bhutan Society (ABS) and the University of Technology Sydney – Institute for Sustainable Futures (UTS-ISF).

The project built on key learnings from UTS-ISF led research with inspirational WASH leaders in government and civil society. By integrating these learnings, the project aimed to foster "transformative leadership" — that is, leadership that addresses and changes harmful gender and social inclusion norms among both female and male leaders.

The transformative leadership initiatives engaged 99 leaders, 56 health workers, and 30 other diverse leaders from local government, the education and health sectors, legal representatives, and civil society organisations (CSO) through training, networking and convening activities. A separate workshop for 13 women with disabilities was also conducted.

Outcomes of the initiative were positive and broad-ranging; for example, a local government leader in Zhemgang mobilised labour to build a toilet for a single 91-year-old woman, while a health assistant raised funds in collaboration with local government in Udzorong to procure bedside toilets for use by the elderly, pregnant women, and persons with disabilities when accessing medical services.

According to an evaluation by UTS-ISF, the greatest shifts among participants in the short term included:

1. Improvement in the participants' leadership skills and strategies
2. Better understanding of gender equality, disability and social inclusion issues and a strengthened belief in their ability to effect change
3. Significant levels of participation in group action, advocacy, and mutual support that has an impact on society and the participants' own communities of employment.

The project ran in three stages. In the first, leadership capacity development opportunities were reviewed, strengthened, and extended to decision makers at different levels. This involved forming a steering group of women, including trainers with disabilities, to provide insights on supporting women with disabilities in leadership. Leadership training and mentoring were conducted for health workers and women with disabilities, with additional mentoring for local government officials. Efforts were made to enhance disability inclusion and gender inclusion in leadership training approaches and modules.

During the second stage, the project aimed to engage more inclusive networks and alliances to support leadership outcomes. A network of "would-be heroes" was established, consisting of local government officials, CSO leaders, and representatives of organisations of persons with disabilities (OPDs). This network received mentoring, thematic learning sessions, and utilised social media groups (WhatsApp and WeChat) for ongoing engagement and strategic influence within the sector. Strengthened linkages were also established through the WASH cluster at national, regional, district, and subdistrict levels.

The third stage involved reflection, documentation, and dissemination of the project's outcomes. Partnership reflection and review processes were completed, along with key informant interviews to document stories of change. Knowledge, attitudes, and practices surveys were conducted to assess the impact of the project. Various reports were prepared, including one on the emergence of transformative leadership in Bhutan and another on making rights a reality.

Despite initial delays caused by COVID-19 restrictions on travel and group gatherings, significant progress was made throughout the project. Training workshops and social media groups proved effective engagement platforms for women with disabilities, health workers and other participants. Action plans were developed, and participants took steps to deliver community awareness talks, promote disability awareness, and contribute to improving WASH facilities for vulnerable groups.

Broader WASH sector contributions

The project’s broader influence includes empowering women with disabilities to emerge as self-advocates, encouraging networking among people with disabilities, and fostering mutual support and leadership development.

Engaging women with disabilities required careful planning, partnerships with OPDs, and adaptations such as providing braille materials and sign language interpreters. Collaboration with local government and utilising social media platforms created opportunities for networking, mentorship, and future leadership development. The project has highlighted the importance of ongoing mentorship, access to resources, and continuous support for leaders.

“Having attended awareness and sensitisation workshops on gender equality, I was able to critically analyse the level of women[‘s] participation in the community meetings and consultation. My confidence level of involving women in any planning, decision making, participation and positively changed my thoughts (sic) on the ability of our women in my community.”

- A local government leader, Trong, Zhemgang

The project has also had a positive impact on capacity building and personal transformation among partners. Inclusive networks have been established and transformative leadership practices documented, ensuring the project benefits are lasting and shared. By nurturing transformative leadership, it has helped to create a more equitable and resilient WASH sector in Bhutan that reflects the participation and access needs of all individuals. 

Other learning and knowledge from the project:

• Strengthening transformative leadership for inclusive WASH in Bhutan

Above: A 49-year-old homeowner built her own toilet before renovating her house as she believed it was crucial to have one (SNV Bhutan)

Above right: Reconvergence workshop participants engaged in developing action plan (SNV Bhutan)