Research Agenda

The absence of sanitation contributes significantly to the poor quality of life and the costs of living of poor households. Poor sanitation also poses serious social problems. In the proposed project areas, women and adolescent girls must meet gender norms and find private places for excreta disposal. This means that they must often walk long distances and may only defecate under the cover of darkness. These conditions affect their safety and force them to limit their intake of food and fluids during the day with serious negative consequences for their health (such as possible kidney disorders).

Local employment opportunities are especially important for peri-urban women, as they need employment near their homes. A local programme of latrine promotion, construction and solid waste recycling offers benefit for improving sanitary conditions in homes and local industries and employment opportunities for women workers.

Through this research the socio-economic level of low income peri-urban communities will rise. The construction of latrines and soakpits and the recycling of solid waste will be undertaken by poor women in these communities. Expected ultimate results are: improved social, economic, environmental and health situations especially benefiting women.

There are various organisations involved in this project. Partner organisations involved: IRC (the Netherlands), University of Kuopio (Finland), Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology, NGO-forum for Drinking Water Supply and Sanitation (Bangladesh), University of Peradeniya (Sri Lanka), COSI Foundation for Technical Cooperation (Sri Lanka), University of Kerala- Loyola College of Social Science (India) and Socio-Economic Unit Foundation (India).