Equality, inclusion and rights framework

Our framework sets out our position, approach and programme standards for our work on equality, inclusion and human rights.

We seek to tackle inequalities in access, resource distribution and decision-making in water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH). We use research, partnerships and programming to understand the underlying causes of inequalities in experiences of and access to clean water, decent toilets and good hygiene – between and within countries, communities and households.

To do this, we work with governments, service providers, community-based groups and other actors to build and strengthen WASH systems that deliver functioning and sustainable WASH services that are responsive, affordable and accessible for all. We work with users, helping them to understand and advocate their rights and remove the barriers that stand in their way. We demonstrate gender-responsive, disability- and age-inclusive designs (universal design), and undertake contextual inequalities, and political and systems analysis, to guide our actions. Our work is backed up by quality and sustainability standards.

Our frameworks define our position, approach and programme standards for all our areas of work, our cross-cutting principles, our core programme approaches, and our thematic/geographic work. The frameworks point to accompanying guidelines, toolkits and resources to provide more detail on how to apply the frameworks in practice. They are developed through internal and external collaboration to ensure our position, approach and standards are based on experience and best practice, making our work more effective. They are updated periodically as our learning, and that of the wider sector, evolves.