Responsibilities, powers, and risks in sanitation governance (Malawi)

This research investigated the distribution of responsibilities, powers and risks in sanitation governance, in terms of how they are assigned by policy and regulatory frameworks and who has the greatest influence on this. It also assessed how the policies address or reinforce the position of women as a disadvantaged and marginalised group, through the lens of feminist political ecology, and whether they are given the opportunity to influence policy. This research was undertaken through a case study of Malawi, and involved detailed policy analysis and semi- structured interviews with key informants from NGOs, CSOs, utilities and government. The research uncovered that sanitation governance in Malawi faces many barriers, such as having to juggle the requirements of international donors (which it is heavily reliant on for funding) with the practical needs of its local staff who are attempting to implement the policies on the ground. Sanitation was also found to be struggling to gain political prioritisation, in part due to its institutional arrangements – being places in a large Ministry where it has to compete for resources and attention. The position of women with regards to sanitation in Malawi was found to be unequal, as they carry much of the burden and responsibilities, while having little power in decision making – both at the household and policy formulation level.