No Service Delivery Without Jobs: Responding to human resource challenges in the rural sanitation and hygiene workforce

Sanitation and hygiene workers of Bharatshila GP, Banka, Bihar, India. Photo credit: USAID/WASHPaLS #2

Understanding and addressing the human resource (HR) needs and gaps in the sanitation and hygiene sector is critical to achieve universal access to adequate and equitable sanitation and hygiene.

This event discussed the findings and recommendations from a recent assessment USAID conducted to better understand the workforce capacity needs of the rural sanitation and hygiene sector. Presented by USAID's WASHPaLS #2 activity, the discussion demonstrates possible starting points to address sanitation and hygiene HR capacity gaps, both at a global and country-level.

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Background

To understand the current and future HR needs and gaps of the sanitation and hygiene sectors, and identify priority actions and pathways to address barriers, USAID’s WASH Partnerships and Learning for Sustainability (WASHPaLS) #2 project conducted a sanitation and hygiene sector workforce capacity needs assessment (CNA) focused on sub-Saharan Africa and South and Southeast Asia. The assessment included an analysis of volunteers, informal, and unskilled workers who play an important role in rural sanitation and hygiene. Results indicated critical HR gaps exist across all sanitation and hygiene functions and there is a lack of data, planning, and prioritization for job creation.

Based on the findings, WASHPaLS #2 developed recommendations and proposed actions, as well as guiding tools to support the development of country action roadmaps for HR capacity strengthening.

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Speakers

Sangita Patel

Global Health Deputy Assistant Administrator, Bureau for Global Health, USAID

Jesse Shapiro

Environmental Health Team Lead, Senior WASH Advisor, and Sanitation Focal Point for Global Health, Office of Maternal and Child Health and Nutrition (MCHN), USAID