Gender Equality and Quality of Life Must Be Central to the Design and Delivery of Sanitation

Abstract

Effective sanitation systems must safeguard not just physical health but also dignity, gender equality, and quality of life. Too often, these broader dimensions are overlooked in design and delivery. In this commentary, we argue for a shift in how we conceptualize sanitation: we must place equity�especially gender equality�at the heart of policy, planning, implementation, measurement, and evaluation in the sector. Doing so will ensure that sanitation systems empower all users, enhance quality of life, and avoid unintentional harms. While global frameworks are increasingly referencing rights and equity, practices remain predominantly gender-blind and technocratic. Aligning global norms with on-the-ground reality requires gender-transformative sanitation interventions that address power dynamics, diversity of experience (particularly through a human rights lens), and intersectionality. We call for sanitation leaders to redefine success to include gender and quality-of-life outcomes, and highlight research and policy imperatives needed to support that norm shift.