Assessing the role of women in microfinance for water supply and sanitation services

As microfinance institutions and development agencies consider the efficacy and scalability of microfinance in the water and sanitation field, these entities must recognize the interplay between microfinance, women, and water and sanitation services. Microfinance institutions lend primarily to women, as women are more responsible in repaying loans. Women are also intimately involved in the water and sanitation sector, as they are predominantly responsible for water related activities such as water fetching, cooking, cleaning, and similar activities. As primary stakeholders in both microfinance and water and sanitation services, the impact of microfinance projects on women must be evaluated. The success and scalability of microfinance as a funding source for water and sanitation services rests on a variety of factors including gender sensitivity, degree of
community outreach and educational programming, and structure of the lending institution. In measuring the effectiveness of such programs, indicators must address the ability of microfinance projects to improve access to water and sanitation services as well as measuring whether such programs improve gender equality within a community. [authors abstract]