Creating gender and social inclusion are key to our NGO’s strategy to ensure strong systems, skilled professionals, and engaged leaders are in place for providing sustainable, equitable and inclusive WASH services. My role focuses on building an organizational gender action plan to ensure the perspectives of various groups and intersections between and within groups and individuals are heard and shared. This will include creating platforms and safe spaces for marginalized groups and individuals to share more on the barriers they face accessing WASH services and working with duty bearers to address these barriers. Our findings will be used to inform our approaches which include women’s leadership training, training on inclusive WASH practices for WASH sector leaders, and engaging with DPOs and women’s groups to strengthen their capacity and enable them to claim their demands.

Today, reducing inequalities and ensuring inclusive spaces for all people are top priorities for society. In Cambodia, we need to challenge traditional gender roles and responsibilities by empowering women and marginalized groups to take part in WASH decision-making programmes. This could change power dynamics at the household and community level as  leadership positions and WASH service delivery roles become more inclusive. This calls for men to encourage community groups to have more women in leadership and key WASH roles through community discussions that include both men and women.