Community Voices in WASH: Who's Really Calling the Shots?

The RISE project aimed to improve water, sanitation, and hygiene in urban slums. In Makassar, Indonesia, and Suva, Fiji, they tried to involve the community in designing these improvements. They held workshops and visited homes to get everyone's input. Afterward, they surveyed people to see who took part and how happy they were with the process. In Makassar, most people joined in, with 89% participating in at least one activity. In Suva, the number was slightly lower, at 75%. Who took part depended on various factors. In Makassar, gender, age, and marital status made a difference. In Suva, education and disability status played a role. This shows that some groups might be left out. Most people were happy with their influence over decisions. In Makassar, 66% were satisfied, and in Suva, it was 70%. However, in Suva, women wanted more say, while religious minorities and unmarried folks wanted less. This raises questions about who really has a voice in these projects. The project collected stories from participants to understand their feelings better. Most people liked the inclusive approach, but some felt left out or didn't trust the process. This highlights the need for better engagement with communities. The RISE project reached many people and made them happy overall. However, it's clear that some groups are still left out. To fix this, WASH projects need to think carefully about who they're including and how. They should work closely with local groups to make sure everyone has a fair chance to be heard. The RISE project shows that involving the community is important. However, it's not enough to just invite people to participate. Projects need to actively include everyone, especially those who might be left out. This way, they can truly reflect the needs and wishes of the whole community. This is a big challenge, but it's crucial for making real, lasting improvements.