11.4.2 Role of other key groups

Religious leaders, youth and women’s groups can play an important role in mobilising local communities and promoting urban WASH initiatives. These groups may use community mobilisation channels such as public meetings, social gatherings, festivals, cultural shows, exhibitions, visits, posters, pamphlets and notice boards. As a result they can make a huge contribution towards the improvement of community awareness and participation. They can therefore help to improve awareness of the WASH sector and of local sanitation and environmental health issues and appropriate WASH technologies.

The training and capacity building of target groups and community workers can enhance the community engagement opportunities, which will have an impact on service delivery and development of local partnerships. Therefore, as strategic social targets, women’s and youth groups should be encouraged to get mobilised and organised, to play their role in supporting and facilitating the implementation of urban WASH facilities. As you learned in Study Session 6, raising awareness of social groups and community workers is essential for engaging all of the community and initiating change in society.