AMY LEUNG Asian Development Bank

The views expressed in this paper are the views of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the Asian Development Bank (ADB), or its Board of Governors, or the governments they represent. ADB does not guarantee the accuracy of the data included in this paper and accepts no responsibility for any consequence of their use. The countries listed in this paper do not imply any view on ADB's part as to sovereignty or independent status or necessarily conform to ADB's terminology.

Water and Sanitation in ADB

Strategy 2020 Seven-point Water Agenda Water Operational Plan

Sanitation Status in Asia and Pacific

Country Total Impact (US$, per year) 4.2 B 53.8 B 448 M 6.34 B 193 M 1.4 B Impact as % of GDP 6.3 6.4 7.2 2.3 5.6 1.3

1.7 billion lack access to improved sanitation (42% of population).

Bangladesh India Cambodia Indonesia Lao PDR Philippines

80% - 90% of wastewater no treatment.

$71 billion investments needed

Viet Nam

780 M

1.3

Source: Water and Sanitation Program. Economics of Sanitation Initiative.

Bridging the Infrastructure and Financing Gap: A daunting task

not a political priority.. considered unaffordable. More leadership needed.

Womens Union leadership in Viet Nam: accessible financing to scale up sanitation

Community Management Committees formed in each town, with members mostly from the Womens Union. Creating demand for household latrines and septic tanks
Financing mechanism: household microcredit scheme and revolving fund

Throwing out the toilet taboos: Women in Japan

Women demanded for change
Result: phenomenal transformation of toilets in Japanfrom the stinky squat latrines to todays modern restrooms with high-tech contraptions

What can we do?

Existence of successful initiatives replicate, scale up!
Involve the women as leaders Involve stakeholders (Demand Driven)

Create enabling environment

engendered approach in policies

Ensure coordinated efforts through partnerships all have a role

Capacity development Increase investments

What can we do?

Influence decision on household level Manage household budget to accommodate sanitation needs Educate the community on value of proper sanitation Make things happen!