water, sanitation and culture 1 stefanie kaiser, seecon international gmbh

Water, Sanitation and Culture


1

Stefanie Kaiser, seecon international gmbh


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Contents

1. Introduction

2. Water and Culture

3. (Sustainable) Sanitation and Culture

4. Religions

5. Gender: The Role of Women

6. Conclusion

7. References

3



Importance of cultural context to water and sanitation

Technical concepts imported to another region without considering the cultural context have too often caused failure.

1. Introduction

Source: WSP (2010)



Culture is a decisive factor in water and sanitation projects

5

1. Introduction

Cultural values

Traditional practices

Local beliefsGender

Generational differences

Taboos

C U L T U R E

Adapted from SCHELWALD & REIJERKERK (2009) and WARNER et al. (2008)



Cultural context as an enabling factor or counteracting forceUnderstand the counteracting forces by assessing cultural backgrounds of the users to:

• Raise ownership

• Increase potential of success

• Mitigate risks

• Diminish failure (e.g. systems are not used; sabotage; vandalised)

Consider the counteracting forces and enabling factors by showing cultural competence throughout a participatory planning and process cycle of projects.

This is even more evident when promoting treatment of excreta for further use, as claimed by sustainable sanitation and IWRM concepts.

6

1. Introduction




Definition of culture

• Culture is a system of shared values, beliefs, behaviour and symbols that the members of society groups use to interact with their social surrounding.

7


ValuesBeliefs

SymbolsBehaviour

C U L T U R E




Nautilus shell: different layers of cultural phenomena

8


Nautilus shell symbolising different layers of cultural phenomena Source: SCHELWALD & REIJERKERK (2009)

• Values, norms and beliefs form the core of any culture.

Express feelings and affections e.g. towards what is dirty / clean.

beliefs, values

traditions, rituals,practices

symbols, artefacts




9




• Traditions, rituals and practices characterise a culture.

beliefs, values


symbols, artefacts



symbols, artefacts


10





• Symbols and artefacts like expressions, stories, gestures or pictures are expressions of culture.

Valuable to convey messages about water and sanitation in education.

beliefs, values




symbols, artefacts






• Symbols and artefacts like expressions, stories, gestures or pictures are expressions of culture.

Moreover, culture becomes manifest in framework issues (e.g. legal or institutional settings).

beliefs, values




• Despite an instinctive repulsion towards excreta, our culture influences our attitudes toward sanitation systems and handling of excreta. WARNER et al. (2008)

• By establishing closed-loop sanitation systems and their economical and environmental benefits, a change towards reducing cultural stigmatisation of faeces is possible too. HEEB

& GNANAKAN (2008)

Different attitudes of cultures toward sanitation and handling of excreta

12

3. (Sustainable) Sanitation and Culture

Source: www.behavioradvisor.com/Motivation.html[Accessed 1.10.2012]

Source: http://free-extras.com/images/smile-1620.htm[Accessed 1.10.2012]



Religions vary considerably in addressing excreta

• Koran: Strict procedures to limit contact with faecal material.

• Bible: Not mentioned a lot.

• Hindu: Specifies the use of water for personal hygiene.

• Buddhism: Earthly resources are treated in an integral dimension like Buddhism’s rein-carnation.

13

4. Religions

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religion[Accessed 1.10.2012]

Adapted from JENSSEN et al. (2004)



Differences between women and men

• The most observable divides between women and men, especially in developing countries, are in water, sanitation and hygiene.

• The provision of hygiene and sanitation are often considered women’s tasks.

• But women’s concerns are rarely addressed appropriately due to societal or cultural barriers. SuSanA (2009)

14

5. Gender: The Role of Women

Source: WSP (2012)



Cultural competence is crucial for successful and sustainable implementation of projects

15

6. Conclusion

Research

Implementing

Design

Monitoring

Planning

Cultural competence = respect the cultural

context:

• Religious and non-religious beliefs and values

• Traditional practices

• Gender

• Generational differences



FALKENMARK, M. (2005): Towards Hydrosolidarity: Ample Opportunities for human ingenuity. Fifteen-Year Message from the Stockholm Water Symposia, in co-operation with the Symposium Scientific Programme Committee Stockholm International Water Institute. Stockholm: SIWI. URL: http://www.siwi.org/documents/Resources/Reports/Report_Towards_hydrosolidarity_2005.pdf [Accessed: 20.04.2010].

GNANAKAN, K. (2008): M4: Management: Planning, Implementation and Operation. Social and Cultural Aspects of Eco-Sanitation. A closer look at the Indian context. In: HEEB, J.; JENSSEN, P.; GNANAKAN; CONRADIN, K. (2008): Ecosan Curriculum 2.3. Switzerland, India and Norway. URL: http://www.sswm.info/sites/default/files/reference_attachments/GNANAKAN

%202008%20Social%20and%20Cultural%20Aspects%20of%20EcoSanitation_0.pdf [Accessed: 1.10.2012].

HEEB, J.; GNANAKAN, K. (2008): Source Separation. New toilets for Indian slums. Project paper. URL: http://www.susana.org/docs_ccbk/susana_download/2-235-heeb-case-study-bangalore-en.pdf [Accessed: 08.04.2011].

JENSSEN, P.D.; HEEB, J.; HUBA-MANG, E.; GANAKAN, K.; WARNER, W.; REFSGAARD, K.; STENSTROEM, T.A.; GUTERSTRAM, B.; ALSEN, K.W. (2004): Ecological Sanitation and Reuse of Wastewater. Ecosan. A Thinkpiece on ecological sanitation. Norway: The Agricultural University of Norway. URL: http://www.uio.no/studier/emner/medisin/inthealth/INTHE4000/h07/undervisningsmateriale/Water%20and%20Health%20article.pdf [Accessed: 19.04.2010].

SCHELWALD-VAN DER KLEY, L.; REIJERKERK, L. (2009): Water: A Way of Life. Sustainable Water Management in a Cultural Context. Leiden: CRC Press.

SUSANA (Editor) (2009): SuSanA Factsheet: Integrating a Gender Perspective in Sustainable Sanitation. Eschborn: Sustainable Sanitation Alliance Working Group on Gender. URL: http://www.sswm.info/sites/default/files/reference_attachments/SUSANA%202009%20Integrating%20a%20Gender%20Perspective%20in

%20Sustainable%20Sanitation.pdf [Accessed: 1.10.2012]. 16

7. References



WARNER, W.; HEEB, J.; JENSSEN, P. ; GNANAKAN, K.; CONRADIN, K. (2008): M4-2: Socio-Cultural Aspects of Ecological Sanitation. PDF-Presentation. Aarau: seecon. URL: http://www.sswm.info/sites/default/files/reference_attachments/WARNER%20et%20al%202008%20Socio%20Cultural%20Aspects.pdf [Accessed: 30.05.2011].

WIJK-SIJBESMA, C. van (1998): Gender In Water Resource Management Supply and Sanitation. Roles and Realities Revisited. The Hague: International Water and Sanitation Centre (IRC). URL:

http://www.irc.nl/page/1893 [Accessed: 30.03.2010].

WSP (Editor) (2000): WSP Water Calendar. Washington D.C.: The World Bank. URL: http://www.wsp.org/wsp/about/Cartoon%20Calendars/2010%20Calendar [Accessed: 20.07.2010].

WSP (Editor) (2012): WSP Water Calendar. Washington D.C.: The World Bank. URL: http://www.wsp.org/wsp/content/2012-cartoon-calendar [Accessed: 1.10.2012].

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7. References

Water, Sanitation and Culture 18

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