World Vision’s WASH programs bring safe drinking water, improved sanitation and hygiene practices to communities around the world. We prioritize making improved water sources and sanitation facilities accessible for the most vulnerable, including people with disabilities and those on the socio-economic margins—often women and girls. Our water, sanitation and hygiene programs take place in both fragile and stable settings and are
focused in four key areas.
In communities, WASH services are developed by residents in collaboration with NGOs, governments,
the private sector and donors. The resulting water schemes serve diverse populations—from small
collections of households to large communities accessing water taps and kiosks through piped
systems. Women are instrumental in choosing the location of the water points and participate in water
management committees, often as leaders of the committees themselves.
In schools, World Vision works to provide access to safe water and improved sanitation through
upgraded gender-responsive latrines along with hygiene education, including menstrual hygiene
management. Facilities are modified where needed so students with physical disabilities can access
and use them.
In health facilities, we collaborate with local health authorities to support better access to WASH
services, which are essential when providing basic health care to girls and boys.
In emergencies, we provide gender-responsive WASH services among disaster-struck populations
and within camps for refugees or internally displaced people.