Authors:
Population Services International (PSI)
Year Published:
2020
Resource Type:
Case Studies
Language:
English

Women’s involvement in the water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) sector have multiple effects, such as increasing equity by creating economic opportunity, bringing value chain efficiency, addressing diverse needs through increasing equal participation in decision-making processes, and increasing product uptake. Nonetheless, women’s involvement in businesses, particularly those related to WASH, remains low around the world. In Ethiopia, for instance, women-owned businesses make up fewer than 10 percent of the construction sector. These enterprises tend to be smaller and mainly in low productivity, low-technology, and low-growth sectors, which lead to lower productivity and profits. This learning note is focused on the gender dynamics in the WASH business and it informs action points to enhance women's roles in the sector.