MWE Gender Strategy

Women and girls in Uganda, as in other sub-Saharan African countries, are the major water collectors, users and managers in homes. They are also the major promoters of household and community sanitation activities. They therefore bear the impact of inadequate, deficient or inappropriate water and sanitation services. However, men still dominate the arena of planning and decision making regarding water and sanitation investments and women's views are often under-represented, implying that women's practical and strategic needs are not addressed. In order to address these issues, the Water and Sanitation sector in Uganda developed its first Water Sector Gender Strategy (WSGS, 2003- 2008) (WSG I), in line with the National Gender Policy. This second Water and Sanitation Sub- Sector Gender Strategy (2009 – 2014) (WSSGS II) has been prepared after review of the WSGI and experiences gained from its implementation.

The goal of the Water and Sanitation Sub-sector Gender Strategy is to empower women, men, and vulnerable groups through ensuring equity in access and control of resources in the water and sanitation sector, leading to poverty reduction.

The review and analysis were based on consultations with water and sanitation related ministries, NGOs and development partners. The water and sanitation sub-sesector has recognised the importance of gender and incorporated it in the Strategic Sector Investment Plan (SIP) (2009) and other sub-sector strategies and guidelines. The Ministry of Water and Environment Gender Strategy 2009 - 2014 can be opened and downloaded using this link.