By Maryam Abeeb
A group known as Fem –in-wash, has called on stakeholders UNICEF, World Bank, Water aid to partner with gender focused organizations such as the Network of Female professionals and member organizations to ensure the needed change for women and their children in the water and environmental sector.
The Convener of the group, Boluwaji Onabolu in a press briefing in Abuja, explained that that the Network of Female Professionals in WASH should be supported to partner with the Project Team of WASHMATA initiatives, to take a preventive management approach to assess other major programs with a gender equity lens to ensure sustainability and prevent wastage of resources.
According to her, the WASHMATA initiative in partnership with Federal Capital Territory, FCT Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency, RUWASSA implemented action research in 2022 to obtain new data not captured in any existing survey.
She disclosed that a study found that the percentage of non –functionality of water supplies was two times higher when women were absent in the WASH committees.
Onabolu added that 65% non-functionality indicated that for every 100 boreholes provided, the projected loss is $517,524, $478,950 (motorized boreholes) and $38, 574(hand pump boreholes).
