From Access to Dignity: Inclusive WASH Toolkit Takes Root in South Sudan

A one-day launch event under Phase 4 – Leave no one behind! project was held in Juba and Wau on August 14 and 15, 2025, respectively. The events marked an important milestone in promoting accessibility and inclusion within the country’s Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) sector and introduced the Inclusive WASH Learning Package. 

A total of 39 WASH partners (28 men and 11 women), including 2 participants with disabilities, attended the launches. Participants were drawn from international, national, and United Nation (UN) agencies, as well as Organizations of Persons with Disabilities (OPDs). 

The Inclusive WASH toolkit provides practical guidance, training modules, and tools to help WASH cluster partners design and implement services that are accessible, safe, and inclusive for all.  It particularly emphasizes improving access to clean water and safe sanitation for persons with disabilities, women, children, and other vulnerable groups. 

The launch events created opportunities for OPD leaders and WASH stakeholders to connect, share experiences, and explore potential collaborations. An OPD representative shared real-life examples of the barriers that people with disabilities face when accessing WASH facilities. These examples enriched the discussions and reinforced the idea that inclusive WASH goes beyond infrastructure; it is about dignity, equity, and human rights. These contributions inspired participants to consider how communities and WASH actors can collaborate to eliminate barriers and effect lasting change. 

 An official from the Department of Public utilities emphasized the importance of this inclusive WASH package, stating: 

“Access to clean water and sanitation is a fundamental human right. This package will equip WASH partners with the knowledge and skills to ensure facilities and services respond to the needs of everyone including persons with disabilities.”