Mainstreaming gender in an emergency water and sanitation (WatSan) response can be difficult as standard consultations and participation processes take too much time. To facilitate a rapid response that includes women's needs, a simple Gender and Sanitation Tool has been developed that can also be used by less experienced staff. The tool is a step-by-step guide on how to collect required data to define design parameters for sanitation facilities, based on ad hoc consultations with women who will be their users. In 2012 the tool was tested in South Sudan within the context of a Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) emergency intervention. Using the tool allowed for a quick and easy way to consult women about the design of facilities and consequently, after construction, an increased usage of facilities was observed in the intervention group compared with a control group where the tool was not used.

Action Contre la Faim (ACF) (2005) Water, Sanitation and Hygiene for Populations at Risk, Paris: Hermann, Éditeurs Des Sciences et Des Arts.

Adams, J. (1999) Managing Water Supply and Sanitation in Emergencies, Oxford: Oxfam GB.

Crofts, T. and Fisher, J. (2012) ‘Menstrual hygiene in Ugandan schools: investigating low-cost sanitary pads’, Journal of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene for Development 2(1): 50–58 <http://dx.doi.org/10.2166/washdev.2012.067≯.

Denscombe, M. (2010) The Good Research Guide: For Small-Scale Social Research Projects, 4th edn, Berkshire, UK: Open University Press.

Harvey, P.A. (2007) Excreta Disposal in Emergencies: A Field Manual, Loughborough, UK: WEDC, Loughborough University.

International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) (2008) Johns Hopkins and Red Cross Red Crescent Public Health Guide in Emergencies, Geneva: IFRC.

Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) (2010) Public Health Engineering in Precarious Situations, 2nd edn, Brussels: MSF.

Ngales, M. (2007) ‘Sanitation provision in Ethiopia's schools: girls’ and women's experiences’, Waterlines 25(3): 11–13 <http://dx.doi.org/10.3362/0262-8104.2007.004≯.

The Sphere Project (2011) The Sphere Handbook [website], The Sphere Project: Humanitarian Charter and Minimum Standards in Humanitarian Response <www.sphereproject.org/resources/download-publications/?search=1&keywords=&language=English&category=22≯ [accessed 15 December 2013]. www.sphereproject.org/resources/download-publications/?search=1&keywords=&language=English&category=22

Tiller, S. and Healy, S. (2013) A Review of the Emergency Response in Maban, South Sudan 2012, Analysis of the Humanitarian Aid System. Case study 1, London: MSF (internal report).

United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) (2007) UNHCR Handbook for Emergencies, 3rd edn, Geneva: UNHCR.

UNHCR (2012) Refugees in South Sudan: Information Sharing Portal [website], UNHCR Information Portals <http://data.unhcr.org/SouthSudan/settlement.php?id=36&country=251&region=25≯ [accessed 15 December 2013]. http://data.unhcr.org/SouthSudan/settlement.php?id=36&country=251&region=25

UNICEF (2005) Emergency Field Handbook: A Guide for UNICEF Staff, New York: UNICEF.

WaterAid (2005) Sanitation Provision in Benishangul-Gumuz Region State Schools: Girls’ and Women's Experiences, Addis Ababa: WaterAid Ethiopia.

Action Contre la Faim (ACF) (2005) Water, Sanitation and Hygiene for Populations at Risk, Paris: Hermann, Éditeurs Des Sciences et Des Arts.

Adams, J. (1999) Managing Water Supply and Sanitation in Emergencies, Oxford: Oxfam GB.

Crofts, T. and Fisher, J. (2012) ‘Menstrual hygiene in Ugandan schools: investigating low-cost sanitary pads’, Journal of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene for Development 2(1): 50–58 <http://dx.doi.org/10.2166/washdev.2012.067≯.

Denscombe, M. (2010) The Good Research Guide: For Small-Scale Social Research Projects, 4th edn, Berkshire, UK: Open University Press.

Harvey, P.A. (2007) Excreta Disposal in Emergencies: A Field Manual, Loughborough, UK: WEDC, Loughborough University.

International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) (2008) Johns Hopkins and Red Cross Red Crescent Public Health Guide in Emergencies, Geneva: IFRC.

Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) (2010) Public Health Engineering in Precarious Situations, 2nd edn, Brussels: MSF.

Ngales, M. (2007) ‘Sanitation provision in Ethiopia's schools: girls’ and women's experiences’, Waterlines 25(3): 11–13 <http://dx.doi.org/10.3362/0262-8104.2007.004≯.

The Sphere Project (2011) The Sphere Handbook [website], The Sphere Project: Humanitarian Charter and Minimum Standards in Humanitarian Response <www.sphereproject.org/resources/download-publications/?search=1&keywords=&language=English&category=22≯ [accessed 15 December 2013]. www.sphereproject.org/resources/download-publications/?search=1&keywords=&language=English&category=22

Tiller, S. and Healy, S. (2013) A Review of the Emergency Response in Maban, South Sudan 2012, Analysis of the Humanitarian Aid System. Case study 1, London: MSF (internal report).

United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) (2007) UNHCR Handbook for Emergencies, 3rd edn, Geneva: UNHCR.

UNHCR (2012) Refugees in South Sudan: Information Sharing Portal [website], UNHCR Information Portals <http://data.unhcr.org/SouthSudan/settlement.php?id=36&country=251&region=25≯ [accessed 15 December 2013]. http://data.unhcr.org/SouthSudan/settlement.php?id=36&country=251&region=25

UNICEF (2005) Emergency Field Handbook: A Guide for UNICEF Staff, New York: UNICEF.

WaterAid (2005) Sanitation Provision in Benishangul-Gumuz Region State Schools: Girls’ and Women's Experiences, Addis Ababa: WaterAid Ethiopia.

Action Contre la Faim (ACF) (2005) Water, Sanitation and Hygiene for Populations at Risk, Paris: Hermann, Éditeurs Des Sciences et Des Arts.

Adams, J. (1999) Managing Water Supply and Sanitation in Emergencies, Oxford: Oxfam GB.

Crofts, T. and Fisher, J. (2012) ‘Menstrual hygiene in Ugandan schools: investigating low-cost sanitary pads’, Journal of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene for Development 2(1): 50–58 <http://dx.doi.org/10.2166/washdev.2012.067≯.

Denscombe, M. (2010) The Good Research Guide: For Small-Scale Social Research Projects, 4th edn, Berkshire, UK: Open University Press.

Harvey, P.A. (2007) Excreta Disposal in Emergencies: A Field Manual, Loughborough, UK: WEDC, Loughborough University.

International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) (2008) Johns Hopkins and Red Cross Red Crescent Public Health Guide in Emergencies, Geneva: IFRC.

Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) (2010) Public Health Engineering in Precarious Situations, 2nd edn, Brussels: MSF.

Ngales, M. (2007) ‘Sanitation provision in Ethiopia's schools: girls’ and women's experiences’, Waterlines 25(3): 11–13 <http://dx.doi.org/10.3362/0262-8104.2007.004≯.

The Sphere Project (2011) The Sphere Handbook [website], The Sphere Project: Humanitarian Charter and Minimum Standards in Humanitarian Response <www.sphereproject.org/resources/download-publications/?search=1&keywords=&language=English&category=22≯ [accessed 15 December 2013]. www.sphereproject.org/resources/download-publications/?search=1&keywords=&language=English&category=22

Tiller, S. and Healy, S. (2013) A Review of the Emergency Response in Maban, South Sudan 2012, Analysis of the Humanitarian Aid System. Case study 1, London: MSF (internal report).

United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) (2007) UNHCR Handbook for Emergencies, 3rd edn, Geneva: UNHCR.

UNHCR (2012) Refugees in South Sudan: Information Sharing Portal [website], UNHCR Information Portals <http://data.unhcr.org/SouthSudan/settlement.php?id=36&country=251&region=25≯ [accessed 15 December 2013]. http://data.unhcr.org/SouthSudan/settlement.php?id=36&country=251&region=25

UNICEF (2005) Emergency Field Handbook: A Guide for UNICEF Staff, New York: UNICEF.

WaterAid (2005) Sanitation Provision in Benishangul-Gumuz Region State Schools: Girls’ and Women's Experiences, Addis Ababa: WaterAid Ethiopia.

Action Contre la Faim (ACF) (2005) Water, Sanitation and Hygiene for Populations at Risk, Paris: Hermann, Éditeurs Des Sciences et Des Arts.

Adams, J. (1999) Managing Water Supply and Sanitation in Emergencies, Oxford: Oxfam GB.

Crofts, T. and Fisher, J. (2012) ‘Menstrual hygiene in Ugandan schools: investigating low-cost sanitary pads’, Journal of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene for Development 2(1): 50–58 <http://dx.doi.org/10.2166/washdev.2012.067≯.

Denscombe, M. (2010) The Good Research Guide: For Small-Scale Social Research Projects, 4th edn, Berkshire, UK: Open University Press.

Harvey, P.A. (2007) Excreta Disposal in Emergencies: A Field Manual, Loughborough, UK: WEDC, Loughborough University.

International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) (2008) Johns Hopkins and Red Cross Red Crescent Public Health Guide in Emergencies, Geneva: IFRC.

Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) (2010) Public Health Engineering in Precarious Situations, 2nd edn, Brussels: MSF.

Ngales, M. (2007) ‘Sanitation provision in Ethiopia's schools: girls’ and women's experiences’, Waterlines 25(3): 11–13 <http://dx.doi.org/10.3362/0262-8104.2007.004≯.

The Sphere Project (2011) The Sphere Handbook [website], The Sphere Project: Humanitarian Charter and Minimum Standards in Humanitarian Response <www.sphereproject.org/resources/download-publications/?search=1&keywords=&language=English&category=22≯ [accessed 15 December 2013]. www.sphereproject.org/resources/download-publications/?search=1&keywords=&language=English&category=22

Tiller, S. and Healy, S. (2013) A Review of the Emergency Response in Maban, South Sudan 2012, Analysis of the Humanitarian Aid System. Case study 1, London: MSF (internal report).

United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) (2007) UNHCR Handbook for Emergencies, 3rd edn, Geneva: UNHCR.

UNHCR (2012) Refugees in South Sudan: Information Sharing Portal [website], UNHCR Information Portals <http://data.unhcr.org/SouthSudan/settlement.php?id=36&country=251&region=25≯ [accessed 15 December 2013]. http://data.unhcr.org/SouthSudan/settlement.php?id=36&country=251&region=25

UNICEF (2005) Emergency Field Handbook: A Guide for UNICEF Staff, New York: UNICEF.

WaterAid (2005) Sanitation Provision in Benishangul-Gumuz Region State Schools: Girls’ and Women's Experiences, Addis Ababa: WaterAid Ethiopia.