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• (Journal Article) Menstrual hygiene management in disasters: the concerns, needs, and preferences of women and girls in Vanuatu

  01.07.2021
  In disaster settings, women and girls face additional challenges in safely managing menstruation with confidence and dignity. Assessing women’s and girls’ needs and preferences at country level prior to a disaster assists Red Cross National Societies with preparedness planning and development of local menstrual hygiene management (MHM) kits for pre-positioning. This study, conducted in Vanuatu, examined the experiences, concerns, needs, and preferences of women and girls in managing menstruation in disasters. Participants trialled one of four different sanitary products included in a MHM kit. Absorbency, security of fit, and odour were the main determinants of product acceptability. Water supply and safe disposal options influenced the preference for either reusable or disposable products. Access to sanitary products, distribution processes, water supply, and privacy were key concerns. Detailed recommendations within this paper will support the Vanuatu Red Cross in decision making and programming for MHM in disaster preparedness and response.

• (Journal Issue) Issue 3

  01.07.2021
  

• (Journal Article) Sanitation Challenge for Ghana (SC4Gh): motivating local authorities through innovation prizes to achieve SDG6

  01.07.2021
  As part of the UK Government-funded Ideas to Impact programme, the Sanitation Challenge for Ghana (SC4Gh) ran from 2015 to 2019 aiming to incentivize local authorities in Ghana to prioritize resources to improve municipal sanitation services towards the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6. The paper reviews the overall results of the SC4Gh and discusses selected results for the Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies (MMDAs) involved. The most notable outcome was that MMDAs involved were able to make significant improvements across the sanitation value chain with limited technical support and no upfront external donor funding. Another important outcome was the empowering aspect of the prize process which enabled MMDAs to innovate their plans based upon their own ideas to improve sanitation services. The prize process was an unprecedented opportunity for MMDAs throughout the country to participate in an international programme, resulting in encouraging results particularly from smaller, less well-resourced MMDAs in remote parts of Ghana who secured prizes in both stages of the Challenge.

• (Journal Article) Urinary incontinence in children aged 5 to 12 in an emergency setting: lessons learned in Ethiopia

  01.07.2021
  This scoping study aimed to be the first to explore the number of children aged 5 to 12 in an emergency setting (Tukaley village, Ethiopia) wetting themselves, and demand for support to manage self-wetting in the home. A survey asked 524 children about their latrine behaviours; and 312 adult caregivers about the latrine behaviours of the children aged 5 to 12 they care for. Few adult caregivers (1 per cent) indicated that children were self-wetting during the day and/or night, and only one child indicated self-wetting (during the day). Yet the survey revealed demand from adult caregivers for household items typically used to manage involuntary self-wetting. This could suggest self-wetting is occurring, but there is a reluctance to disclose it. Given the impact of self-wetting on the lives of children and their adult caregivers, it would be unethical for it not to be considered when developing emergency programmes across sectors including the water, sanitation, and hygiene sector. With further research and modifications to the survey, it could provide greater clarity on the number of children self-wetting and the scale of demand for support to inform emergency programme design.

• (Journal Article) How socio-demographic and mass media factors affect sanitary item usage among women in rural and urban India

  01.07.2021
  Our study’s objective is to examine the various socio-demographic and mass media factors of sanitary item usage among rural and urban women in India. We have used data from the Indian version of the Demographic and Health Survey, conducted in 2015–16 for this study, with a sample of 247,833 women in the age group of 15 to 24 years. Binary logistics regression was performed separately for urban and rural women to understand the various determinants of sanitary item usage. We found that three-quarters of women in urban areas use sanitary items compared to half of the women in rural areas. Indian women in rural areas appear to be at a considerable disadvantage compared to their urban counterparts with regard to sanitary item usage. Factors determining sanitary item usage did not vary between urban and rural areas. However, education, wealth, mass media, and toilet facility were the major factors in understanding the improvement in sanitary item usage in urban and rural areas. At the policy level, there is need to focus on (a) disseminating knowledge about menstrual hygiene management (MHM) practices and provisioning of sanitary items; and (b) providing exposure to traditional media channels to potentially reduce the social stigma associated with these issues and bring critical conversations to the forefront, especially among the socio-economically disadvantaged groups.

• (Journal Article) The Bishesta campaign: a menstrual hygiene management intervention for people with intellectual impairments and their carers

  01.07.2021
  This paper describes the components of the Bishesta campaign: a behaviour change intervention for menstrual hygiene management (MHM), targeting young people with intellectual impairments, and their carers in Nepal. The campaign uses two fictitious characters: Bishesta (a young person with an intellectual impairment) and Perana (her carer), and consists of three group training modules. ‘Period packs’, designed to make MHM behaviours attractive and easy to adopt, are given to the young people. Packs include storage bags, a bin, and stories about Bishesta menstruating and learning to manage as independently as possible, with Perana’s support. Carers receive a calendar to track the young person’s menstrual cycle. A Bishesta doll, with removable clothes, underwear, and a miniature ‘period pack’ is used in training to demonstrate MHM. Evaluation findings show the intervention is feasible at small scale, so further research on how to scale up the intervention in an evidence-based way is required.

• (Journal Issue) Issue 1-2

  01.06.2021
  

• (Journal Article) The COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on microfinance institutions in Indonesia

  01.06.2021
  The paper aims to analyse the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on microfinance institutions (MFIs) and identify mitigation and adaptation measures to cope with the situation. An online survey and focus group discussions were employed to capture how far the COVID-19 pandemic affects MFIs’ business. The results show that MFIs’ performance is negatively affected due to the COVID-19 crisis as their major customers, micro and small enterprises (MSEs), have experienced a contraction. MFIs have implemented several mitigation and adaptation measures to cope with the situation and future shocks. These results provide an overview of how far the COVID-19 crisis affects MFIs which can help the government design policies that can support MFIs and MSEs to survive. However, some issues related to methodology, such as the inability to capture complex and profound information, survey monitoring, and response rate, influenced the analysis so that the research may lack generalizability. Thus, a more holistic methodology is needed to investigate the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic comprehensively.

• (Journal Article) Women’s economic empowerment and COVID-19: the case of vulnerable women with intersectional identities in Indonesia and Vietnam

  01.06.2021
  In recent decades, ASEAN has seen significant progress in gender equality and women’s empowerment. However, advances have not been even and vulnerable women with a range of intersectional identities have not benefited to the same extent as more privileged women or their male counterparts. Moreover, despite ASEAN’s much-lauded success in COVID-19 prevention and containment, the economic gains that had been achieved for women and girls are rapidly losing ground. Disruptions in the tourism sector, labour migration, and international trade have had a devastating economic impact on vulnerable populations, while innovations and new implementation approaches have provided some relief for low-income communities. This paper describes the COVID-19 economic fallout for women homeworkers and labour migrants engaged in informal jobs in Indonesia and low-income ethnic minority women in agriculture and tourism sectors in north-west Vietnam. It discusses early experiences and learning on pivoting projects, funded by the Government of Australia, to be COVID-19 responsive and contribute to longer-term recovery.

• (Journal Article) Potential for indigenous communication systems to improve financial literacy: evidence from Nigeria

  01.06.2021
  The low level of education and lack of electricity hinder dissemination of financial literacy information in rural communities. To address this problem, this study investigated the roles of the indigenous communication system in closing the gaps in dissemination of financial literacy information among Nigerian rural farmers. It was found that the use of indigenous language in formal financial service literacy campaigns has a significant association with dissemination of formal financial service literacy information to rural farmers. Second, contrary to our earlier expectations, no significant association was found between community leaders and the dissemination of formal financial service literacy information to rural farmers. Third, town-criers’ participation in formal financial service literacy campaigns has a positive significant impact on the dissemination of formal financial service literacy information to rural farmers. The researchers conclude that financial authorities should encourage indigenous language and town-criers in the dissemination of financial literacy information to rural famers.

• (Journal Article) COVID-19 impact study: assessing the consequences of the pandemic on economic output in developing countries for targeted sectors

  01.06.2021
  This paper presents a model for how the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on economic output in developing countries can be assessed with a new approach. Existing models lack sectoral granularity in developing countries, which can, however, be obtained through input-output modelling by changing the social accounting matrix to simulate a COVID-19 economy. Results have been estimated for 65 sectors and 141 regions which correspond to the Global Trade Analysis Project’s data. The analyses showed that the average impact in Africa and Asia on industry output is −2.6 per cent and −2.9 per cent, respectively. It is estimated that tourism and services are the most heavily impacted sectors, between −15 per cent and −19 per cent for hospitality, recreation, and other service activities, and between −4 per cent and −7 per cent for transport services. The model is a first attempt at estimating impact at this level of granularity per country and sector, which by triangulation with empirical data can be used to make substantiated management or policy decisions.

• (Journal Article) Field perspectives on the economic impacts of COVID-19 on women with disabilities in Bangladesh and Nepal

  01.06.2021
  COVID-19 has surfaced many of the inequities to which people with disabilities have always been vulnerable. Moreover, women with disabilities face even greater risks than their male counterparts. The current article highlights the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on women with disabilities in Bangladesh and Nepal from the vantage point of two organizations working directly with women with disabilities in these countries. What is clear is that governments need to take further steps to address this crisis while also implementing programmes and services that promote economic security for women with disabilities and their families. The work done by organizations of women with disabilities is critical for documenting the daily impacts of the pandemic and helping to mitigate its negative effects.

• (Journal Article) Turning the COVID-19 crisis into entrepreneurial success: an exploratory study on women innovators of Pakistan

  01.06.2021
  The COVID-19 pandemic has not only created significant havoc in the world but has also opened doors to new opportunities for women entrepreneurs. The objective of this study is to examine case studies of women entrepreneurs to determine how they have taken advantage of the circumstances offered by COVID-19 to expand their businesses. To gain deeper insights about lived experiences of women entrepreneurs, the study uses semi-structured interviews to identify the strategies women entrepreneurs have adopted during times of social and economic upheaval. The findings indicate that women entrepreneurs responded to this crisis by accessing finance and using their innovative and creative skills to leverage e-commerce, often in the face of economic hardship. This study aims to contribute to policymakers’ and practitioners’ development of appropriate response strategies that focus on strengthening women entrepreneurs in Pakistan.

• (Journal Article) Training vs. informal financial services for the promotion of financial literacy and inclusion in Uganda

  01.06.2021
  Financial education aims to promote financial inclusion by increasing understanding and use of formal financial services. Despite such training, participation in informal financial practices remains high relative to formal ones in countries like Uganda. A cross-sectional sample survey of economically active urban financial service users is used to test whether financial education through formal training is associated with financial literacy (FL) and FL is associated with increased use of financial services, especially formal ones. The findings indicate that formal financial training is significantly associated with FL, and that higher FL is associated with higher use of both formal and informal financial services. The unexpectedly strong association of the use of informal financial services with financial literacy suggests that informal financial services may have a more complementary role than a simple model of financial formalization would imply. The study suggests that promoting informal financial services may be more efficient in raising financial literacy and inclusion than financial training.

• (Journal Article) Impact of COVID-19 shutdown on economic resilience of low-income households and its implications for livelihood interventions: the case of Bangladesh

  01.06.2021
  COVID-19 shutdown provides a unique opportunity to assess how the low-income households engaged in urban and rural formal and informal economies coped with the shock and how it affected their capacity to cope with such shocks in the near future. Insights on the income and expenditure, savings and borrowing patterns of the low-income households can help us to understand how the coping mechanism and coping capacity varies across different types of low-income households. In turn, it can help us understand the weaknesses in their coping capacity which should be addressed for these households to become more resilient against such external shocks. This paper examines the coping mechanism and the coping capacity of the low-income households based on rapid surveys that were undertaken during the COVID-19 shutdown period in Bangladesh by the author and other agencies in Bangladesh.

• (Journal Article) Disruptions and the protracted effects of the COVID-19 lockdown in the non-bank financial institution sector in Ghana

  01.06.2021
  This paper assesses disruptions in the non-bank financial institution (NBFI) sector and the protracted effects of COVID-19 and the lockdown on the NBFI sector. The paper focuses on microfinance institutions in Ghana using rapid response survey data obtained from the Ghana Microfinance Institutions Network between January 2020 and April 2020. Poor corporate governance, improper documentation of transactions, and impaired loan portfolio among others were antecedents to the disruptions. Regarding the lockdown effects, we found that savings value contracted and the possibility of a further deteriorating portfolio is anticipated thus reducing interest income. The use of digital channels of delivering savings and loan products increased while the physical delivery channel decreased. The regulator needs to have a second look at microfinance regulation in Ghana. Policy should focus on expanding and upscaling the use of digital and remote banking means in reaching out to clients.

• (Journal Article) Impact of COVID-19 on livestock exports from Somalia and the Horn of Africa

  01.06.2021
  Somalia has a significant place in the livestock sector in the Horn of Africa; livestock trade and export is one of the key economic contributors. Most of the livestock trade happens with the Middle East, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia being one of its biggest importers. The COVID-19 pandemic has led to both massive loss of life and huge economic losses as the result of measures to contain the virus. In June 2020, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia took the decision to restrict the number of pilgrims for the annual Hajj. Impacts resulted in a decline in income from the seasonal Hajj of 80 per cent, though domestically prices of livestock remained stable and local markets were used for livestock sales. This paper, besides highlighting the effects, provides recommendations which could inform strategic planning, humanitarian aid, and resilience building for the livestock value chain in Somalia and the Horn of Africa

• (Journal Issue) Issue 2

  01.04.2021
  

• (Journal Article) Intervention mapping as a framework for planning the implementation of urine diversion toilets and Ecosan education in a community school in Kavre, Nepal

  01.04.2021
  Use of human excreta as fertilizer is not a new concept. However, with the use of the modern water-flush toilet, human excreta becomes mixed with water and causes environmental pollution. To reemphasize the nutritional value of human urine in the field, a urine diversion toilet was constructed in a community school situated in Kavre, Nepal. The purpose of establishing the urine diversion toilet is to improve hygiene outcomes through promoting proper sanitation and transforming the school community’s regular practice and attitudes towards urine as a resource. To ensure effective implementation of the urine diversion toilets, intervention mapping was used as a guiding framework. The aim of this paper is to document how the urine diversion toilet was planned and implemented in the school and how the urine diversion toilet was connected with the curriculum to address concerns regarding water, sanitation, and hygiene with a focus on sustainability through intervention mapping. This study highlights the benefits of intervention mapping as a systematic and step-by-step process for the planning and implementation of the urine diversion toilet. This study also highlights the benefits of connecting urine diversion toilets with school gardening, and engaging with local government and other stakeholders about the value of the approach.

• (Journal Article) Integrating sanitation and climate change adaptation: lessons learned from case studies of WaterAid’s work in four countries

  01.04.2021
  The links between climate change and sanitation are frequently overlooked in the WASH sector. This paper examines experiences of WaterAid in Bangladesh, Burkina Faso, India, and Madagascar where there was some consideration of the impacts of climate change on sanitation. Climate resilience was often not considered explicitly, however, with work instead framed around weather-related threats that are now increasingly frequent and severe. In these case studies, sanitation and climate integration involved adapting on-site sanitation hardware to physical impacts on infrastructure, while some social aspects of climate resilience were also considered. Integration took place primarily at the project level, while climate change consideration seemed absent from wider planning and decision-making. Aside from these case studies, most of WaterAid’s sanitation work does not seem to incorporate climate change. It is recommended that climate resilience is integrated into each stage of sanitation programming, with a more systematic consideration of its potential impacts.