Translating disability-inclusive WASH policies into practice: lessons learned from Bangladesh

Attention is given to improving people with disabilities access to water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) services and providing accessible information in Bangladesh’s WASH-related policies and plans. Yet few references to disability included well-defined activities to achieve these, so policy implementation might not match the identified aims.

Background

Attention is given to improving people with disabilities access to water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) services and providing accessible information in Bangladesh’s WASH-related policies and plans. Yet few references to disability included well-defined activities to achieve these, so policy implementation might not match the identified aims.

Methods

This is a qualitative cross-sectional study in Bangladesh’s Gaibandha and Rangpur districts, that aims to explore the implementation of WASH policy commitments to people with disabilities. We purposively selected nine government officials and service providers working in these districts and Dhaka, 15 women and men with disabilities (aged 18-65), and four of their female caregivers living in the districts. In-depth interviews, PhotoVoice and ranking, were applied in person. Data were analysed thematically using Nvivo 12.

Results

Government officials demonstrated a solid commitment to disability rights and rehabilitation; they and service providers believed that people with disabilities should have access to WASH services. However, few efforts to improve disability rights included WASH, and few WASH activities systematically included disability. National and district WASH data were not disaggregated by disability, making tracking equitable progress difficult. Few people with disabilities could access or use WASH services independently at home, meaning they did not bathe or use the toilet as often as required and relied on caregivers. Most participants cited affordability as a critical barrier to improving WASH at home. We found examples of Organisations of Persons with Disabilities participating in WASH sector meetings. However, accounts of individuals with disabilities participating in WASH meetings or interacting with WASH organisations were rare. Consequently, very few people with disabilities and caregivers were aware of their right to water and sanitation or had demanded them even though structures exist.

Conclusion

Our study shows that WASH and disability are considered and implemented in silo, so many people with disabilities fall through the gap and remain unserved. All references to disability in Bangladesh's WASH-related policies and plans must include clear and concrete activities to achieve them. Efforts must be monitored and evaluated to ensure activities are implemented as planned.

View or download

Wilbur, J., (2022), Translating disability-inclusive WASH policies into practice: lessons learned from Bangladesh. Research Report. LSHTM, WaterAid and Identity Inclusion. https://doi.org/10.17037/PUBS.04668055

More attention has been given to disability in WASH policies and programs. The Disability-Inclusive WASH Checklist has been developed for government officials and service providers to support the meaningful inclusion of people with disabilities and caregivers in national policies, guidance documents, and interventions. It’s based on findings from research that the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, WaterAid and OPDs did in Cambodia and Bangladesh, through Water for Women. The Disability-Inclusive WASH Checklist presents the study recommendations in a practical way that will support government officials and service providers to action them in their work.

This resource of one of several excellent resources produced during this research project, you can find many more on WaterAid's WASHmatters website:

Translating disability inclusive WASH policies into practice: lessons from Cambodia and Bangladesh

This resource is an output of our Water for Women research project, Improving WASH Access for Women and Girls with Disabilities, led by the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine in partnership with WaterAid in the first phase of Water for Women. 

Policy and strategy