The Wash for Women Program

Problem and Context

The Wash for Women program invested in Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) in schools across 15 countries between 2018 and 2022. Targeting over 600 schools in the Asia-Pacific region. The program aimed to address various challenges, including the lack of adequate WASH facilities, poor hygiene practices, and limited menstrual health and hygiene support, which disproportionately affected students, especially girls and children with disabilities. Furthermore, these problems led to health issues, reduced school attendance, and high dropout rates.

Solution

The program implemented a comprehensive approach that combined infrastructure improvements, behavior change initiatives, and policy advocacy. Infrastructure improvement involved developing gender-separated, disability-inclusive toilets, installing water points for drinking and sanitation, and provided menstrual health and hygiene facilities, including waste bins and incinerators. Behavior change initiatives involve conducting hygiene promotion activities through school clubs, integrated MHH education into school curricula, and developed and distributed behavior change communication materials. Policy and advocacy involved collaborating with national governments to integrate WASH improvements, advocated for an increased budget allocation for WASH maintenance, and provided training for teachers, school management committees, and government officials to sustain WASH practices.

Impact

This intervention led to improved WASH access for 628 schools, and benefited over 71,000 adolescent girls. Moreover, over 1,023 schools achieved basic of advanced handwashing facilities, exceeding targets. Attendance rates improved, and the prevalence of hygiene-related illnesses, such as diarrhea and helminth infections also went down.

Note: further analysis and data analysis will have to be carried out to properly understand the programs impact.

The program's focus on inclusive infrastructure and behavior change offers a model that can be adapted to other low-resource settings facing similar challenges. Its integration of WASH improvements into education systems provides a clear and replicable framework. By training teachers, students, and school management committees, the program has built local capacity to maintain facilities, ensuring sustainability. Advocacy for policy integration strengthens long-term viability, while community ownership fosters self-reliance and reduces dependence on external support.