Women’s contribution to sanitation access (Côte d’Ivoire)

Sanitation is a crucial problem that humanity is facing today, especially in Côte d’Ivoire. Women play a major role in domestic water management in areas where safe water and drainage are not available in the house. The aim of our study was to examine how women can enhance access to sanitation services in peri-urban areas, which includes domestic wastewater and excreta. For this purpose, we evaluated (i) women’s involvement in the construction and maintenance of these works, and (ii) determined the individuals responsible for water collection and management decisions in households of rural aeras. A qualitative research design was used to gather data from 100 households across five area villages in Biankouma department located Tonkpi region (Côte d’Ivoire). The results showed that women were in charge of collecting and managing water and maintaining sanitation facilities. They had to carry water into the house from a public standpipe. For most women, the biggest problem was that all wastewater in the house had to be carried outside and thrown into the street. Overall, it can be said that Biankouma women are wastewater managers. However, it need to promote these women’s empowerment, strengthening their ability to make their concerns heard within the community for wastewater management