Resource: Video

Citywide Inclusive Sanitation (CWIS) refers to a comprehensive approach to urban sanitation that prioritizes the needs and rights of all city residents, regardless of their socioeconomic status, gender, or ability. The goal of CWIS is to provide safe, accessible, and sustainable sanitation services for everyone, while also promoting public health, environmental sustainability, and social equity.

CWIS recognizes that traditional approaches to urban sanitation, which often rely on centralized sewer systems and neglect informal settlements and marginalized communities, are not sufficient to meet the needs of rapidly growing cities. Instead, CWIS emphasizes decentralized, community-led approaches to sanitation that engage local residents and stakeholders in the design, implementation, and management of sanitation systems.

Key components of CWIS include the provision of basic sanitation facilities such as toilets, hand-washing stations, and solid waste management services; the promotion of hygiene and behavior change through education and outreach; the use of appropriate technologies and sustainable practices to reduce the environmental impact of sanitation systems; and the establishment of institutional frameworks and governance structures to ensure accountability, transparency, and participation.

By prioritizing inclusive and sustainable sanitation, CWIS has the potential to improve public health outcomes, reduce environmental pollution, and promote social and economic development in cities around the world. However, achieving these goals will require significant investments in infrastructure, technology, and human resources, as well as political will and social mobilization to overcome the cultural and institutional barriers that have historically hindered progress in urban sanitation.