UNICEF trains Kaduna officials on gender-transformative WASH practices

As part of the implementation of the Accelerating Climate-Resilient Sanitation and Water for All (ASWA III) project, UNICEF has trained state officials in Kaduna on gender-transformative Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) practices.

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The training also included local government officials, equipping them with the knowledge and skills to implement gender-sensitive WASH initiatives in their communities.

The two-day training, held in Kaduna on Thursady, involved participants from relevant Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) and Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) involved in WASH.

The officials from the two pioneering local governments of Lere and Kagarko, where the ASWA III project is being implemented, also participated in the training.

Funded by the Government of the Netherlands and implemented by UNICEF, the ASWA III project aims to provide climate-resilient WASH services to communities in affected states.

The training focused on enhancing participants’ understanding of gender concepts such as equality, equity, and transformative approaches in WASH.

It also aimed to equip them with the skills necessary to conduct gender analysis, design gender-sensitive WASH programming, and build their capacity for monitoring, evaluation, and social inclusion.

At the training’s opening, Mubarak Ladan, Director General of Kaduna State Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency (RUWASSA), emphasised that being selected for the project was an honour and a responsibility.

“UNICEF did not make a wrong decision by selecting Kaduna, and we must prove ourselves worthy of this opportunity,” he said.

David Damian, WASH Officer at UNICEF Kaduna Field Office, highlighted that the project includes building climate-resilient facilities in communities, schools, and primary health centres, as well as empowering local populations to manage these resources sustainably.

He also pointed out that local governments had shown interest in being part of the initiative and had developed specific plans to implement ASWA III activities.

“Unlike previous UNICEF WASH projects, ASWA III includes thematic areas like sustainability, climate resilience, and gender-transformative approaches.”

Damian explained that the project aimed to ensure reliable water access during emergencies, while also addressing gender disparities in water access and usage.

NAN/Wumi