I could see how they tried to hide their smiles. They looked at the papers on the table, feigned busyness––my senior national colleagues in the UNICEF-Herat Office. I had joined a few months ago and already began shaking some of our “business as usual” approaches. I had their support mostly, but this time they thought I had gone too far.
“I believe we can do it. Do you think the Government will come along?” They had no way to escape now. I had caught the bull by the horns. My proposal that threw them off guard was about setting up a toilet production center by women. It was the wildest idea I had hit them with.
In my younger days, I had worked with “WATSAN” or “WES projects which evolved as “WASH '' eventually . . . In 1990, I was hired by the Dutch Embassy in Dhaka to design and guide the implementation of the software component of a water and sanitation project in 18 District towns in Bangladesh. The software meant inclusion of women in decision making on installation of water pumps and sanitary toilets (those days we said ‘latrines') and hygiene education. We trained women in masonry and provided them with technical-business ideas regarding how to set up their own latrine production centers. I got trained in masonry and easily could detect if the “goose-neck” of the latrine-Pan met the standard thickness according to specifications. In the designing process of the project, I had inspected at least 300 hanging toilets––lots of piss and shit! Those days, women literally did not get into WATSAN work.
The project was successful––blessed by Grameen Bank, Brac and the NGO forum. (It was my second job). My transition to UNICEF from there was easy.
. . . I had done my ground work. Suraiya, the head of the NGO, “Voice of Women (VoW)”and I had discussed it in detail and she agreed to work with us. Her team scoured the possible location, discussed the idea with 200 community members, including key mullah-leaders. I knew my business. So, no messing with me!
I came to the meeting armed with facts. And our Water-sanitation officer (engineer) agreed to set up a meeting with the Director of the Rural Rehabilitation Department (RRD)– responsible for providing water and (sanitary) latrines to the people.
RRD was full of water engineers or technicians with engineering diplomas. They were more interested in water pipes or hand pumps. We needed deep installations (pipes) as the water table was extremely low in that desert-region. Water was expensive. UNICEF was a big sponsor for WASH.
“Okay Ms. Nazhat. We will support you . . .” the Director smiled amicably. I knew it came with a cost. We traded on a proposal for more water pumps and pipes rehabilitation/installations. Both sides had a win-win outcome.
Khowaja Surmaq was a UNICEF supported clean village. The concept meant–– use of safe water and sanitary latrines, and correct hygiene behaviors practiced by all villagers, at all times. Khowja Surmaq, like any other village, had muddy, rugged roads, little patches of vegetation and vast sandy terrains. The first and only women’s sanitary latrine production center in Afghanistan was established here!
In Afghanistan, about 22% deaths were attributed to diarrhoeal diseases (under 5) due to unsafe water, and unsanitary practices. About 23% of the population had access to safe water. Only 12% households used sanitary latrines.
Seven female masons (latrine producers) along with a male mason were trained. In six weeks, they produced 59 latrine slabs under the guidance of the master trainer. Each latrine consisted of a set of one slab and 14 rings of various sizes––the design provided by the RRD. The production (raw materials) as well as the purchase of the latrines by communities was subsidized by UNICEF at the beginning to promote latrines as it was a new idea. VoW’s community mobilizers were engaged in promoting hygiene behaviors along with marketing. Female masons were eventually meant to do the marketing. They also produced concrete/cement blocks to diversify income generation. These blocks were used in various construction projects and were in high demand.
We engaged in the development of a sustainability-strategy of the centers into a commercially viable venture––UNICEF Herat, RRD, latrine producers and VoW began the ground work. Villagers donated a bigger piece of land for future expansion of the center.
By January 2009, the women sold 49 latrines (with rings), at AFS 2000 (USD 40), each. The production cost was about AFS 1000 for each. 43 Latrines were installed in Khowaja Surmaq with roofs and walls.
It was a harsh winter-that year. Herat and the villages were shrouded in cold mist. But it didn’t dampen the spirit of the women. They were ready in their gum boots, gloves and the tools to complete “the unfinished business” ––a group of female masons came to see me with slabs and equipment thrown at the back of their truck as I couldn’t travel to Kazi Surmaq due to the security situation.
We proved it again––women are invincible!!!
I came to the meeting armed with facts. And our Water-sanitation officer (engineer) agreed to set up a meeting with the Director of the Rural Rehabilitation Department (RRD)– responsible for providing water and (sanitary) latrines to the people.
RRD was full of water engineers or technicians with engineering diplomas. They were more interested in water pipes or hand pumps. We needed deep installations (pipes) as the water table was extremely low in that desert-region. Water was expensive. UNICEF was a big sponsor for WASH.
“Okay Ms. Nazhat. We will support you . . .” the Director smiled amicably. I knew it came with a cost. We traded on a proposal for more water pumps and pipes rehabilitation/installations. Both sides had a win-win outcome.
Khowaja Surmaq was a UNICEF supported clean village. The concept meant–– use of safe water and sanitary latrines, and correct hygiene behaviors practiced by all villagers, at all times. Khowja Surmaq, like any other village, had muddy, rugged roads, little patches of vegetation and vast sandy terrains. The first and only women’s sanitary latrine production center in Afghanistan was established here!
In Afghanistan, about 22% deaths were attributed to diarrhoeal diseases (under 5) due to unsafe water, and unsanitary practices. About 23% of the population had access to safe water. Only 12% households used sanitary latrines.
Seven female masons (latrine producers) along with a male mason were trained. In six weeks, they produced 59 latrine slabs under the guidance of the master trainer. Each latrine consisted of a set of one slab and 14 rings of various sizes––the design provided by the RRD. The production (raw materials) as well as the purchase of the latrines by communities was subsidized by UNICEF at the beginning to promote latrines as it was a new idea. VoW’s community mobilizers were engaged in promoting hygiene behaviors along with marketing. Female masons were eventually meant to do the marketing. They also produced concrete/cement blocks to diversify income generation. These blocks were used in various construction projects and were in high demand.
We engaged in the development of a sustainability-strategy of the centers into a commercially viable venture––UNICEF Herat, RRD, latrine producers and VoW began the ground work. Villagers donated a bigger piece of land for future expansion of the center.
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| Female latrine producers working at the center |
By January 2009, the women sold 49 latrines (with rings), at AFS 2000 (USD 40), each. The production cost was about AFS 1000 for each. 43 Latrines were installed in Khowaja Surmaq with roofs and walls.
It was a harsh winter-that year. Herat and the villages were shrouded in cold mist. But it didn’t dampen the spirit of the women. They were ready in their gum boots, gloves and the tools to complete “the unfinished business” ––a group of female masons came to see me with slabs and equipment thrown at the back of their truck as I couldn’t travel to Kazi Surmaq due to the security situation.
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| Women masons outside UNICEF-Herat |
We proved it again––women are invincible!!!
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| Mothers work while the children play in the background |
Isn't it interesting that Bangladesh has managed to influence the countries in the region in terms of low-cost water AND sanitation ? Prof Md Yunus of the Grameen Bank was promoting handpumps for women for income generation in around 1983/84 at a time when men thought they had the monopoly, so that training women as masons was a natural progression to break the male mould.
ReplyDeleteExpecting women to be involved with such an activity in Herat is not too far removed from a project I saw in Kabul in 2001 where the making and selling of bread was an all female affair. And, wow, could those women bake a tasty slab of nan ?
The only question I would ask is as to whether the Taliban will allow this to continue ?
Many thanks for your comments, Ken. Yes, Bangladesh has been a pioneer in sustainable WASH approaches and several groundbreaking development programs. There were also girls' schools in Herat run by Brac during my time. We supported them. (Kenya and some ESAR countries adopted Brac's non-formal school philosophy in the mid 1990s).
ReplyDeleteBread making is a traditional occupation- during the previous regime of the Taliban women needed courage even to bake naan commercially.
Producing Latrines/toilets was like breaking all boundaries- marching into the men's world!! It needed unbridled bravery. Though Taliban's weren't directly in power but they remained an integral part of the society.
At present (after return of the Taliban), women's mobility is restricted, girls' education is in jeopardy. It's heartbreaking.