Empowerment in WASH Index, EWI

EMPOWERMENT

IN WASH INDEX

The Empowerment in WASH Index (EWI) is a pragmatic survey-based tool made to measure, monitor and carry out diagnostics of water, sanitation, and hygiene-related interventions, allowing for inclusive and equitable outcomes.

ABOUT

Why did we create this tool?

Safe water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) are critical for human development. Gender is a major concern because women and girls are disproportionally affected by inadequate WASH services.

We tend to assume that adequate facilities and infrastructure can solve gender disparities. However, technical solutions alone do not address inequalities in terms of harmful gender norms, decision-making power, or control over resources and time. As a result, women may not have access to services that meet their needs.

The Empowerment in WASH Index, EWI was created to change that. The tool is currently being developed and piloted in different cultural and geographic settings. Get in touch if you are interested in applying the EWI in your work.

Find out more

RESOURCES

Explore the tool

Technical brief

How does EWI work?

Brief

Measuring empowerment in WASH in Ghana

Brief

Gender and water security in Burkina Faso

Gender and water security in Burkina-Faso

Publications

Explore our Publications

Dery, F., Bisung, E., Dickin, S., & Atengdem, J. (2021). ‘They will listen to women who speak but it ends there’: examining empowerment in the context of water and sanitation interventions in Ghana. H2Open Journal.

Bisung, E. & Dickin, S. (2021) Who does what and why? Examining intra-household water and sanitation decision making and autonomy in Asutifi North, Ghana. Journal of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene for Development

Dickin, S., Bisung, E. & Charles, K. (2020) Empowerment in Water, Sanitation andHygiene Index. World Development. 137

Dery, F., Bisung, E., Dickin, S., & Dyer, M. (2020). Understanding empowerment in water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH): a scoping review. Journal of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene for Development, 10(1), 5-15.

Dery, F., Achore, M., & Bisung, E. “Today men’s orientation has changed”: gender and household water and sanitation responsibilities in Ghana. Gender Matters Globally: Geography, Health and Sustainability. Routledge.

UPDATES

Read the latest news about EWI

May 06, 2021 Global Consultation on EWI

Measuring water and sanitation inequality – beyond taps and toilets

Women are left out of crucial decisions about water

PARTNERS

Stockholm Environment Institute, SEI is an international non-profit research and policy organization that tackles environment and development challenges. Dr. Sarah Dickin is leading the development of the tool at SEI.

IRC is an independent, non-profit organization that drives resilient WASH systems from the ground up. IRC was involved in piloting of the EWI in Burkina Faso and Ghana.

Researchers from the School of Kinesiology and Health Studies, Queen’s University, Canada are collaborating with SEI on the development of the EWI. Dr. Elijah Bisung is leading the development of the tool at Queen's University.

REACH is a global research programme to improve water security for the poor by delivering world-class science that transforms policy and practice. REACH supported the development and piloted of EWI through an Accelerated Grant.