Table 1.
The 21 core concepts of EquiFrame, adapted to the rights of people with disabilities, and women and girls, in the context of WASH.
| No. | Core Concept | Key Question | Key Language |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Non-discrimination | Does the policy support the rights of people with disabilities and women/girls with equal opportunity in receiving WASH services? | People with disabilities and women/girls are not directly or indirectly discriminated against within the WASH system |
| 2. | Individualized services | Does the policy support the rights of people with disabilities and women/girls with individually tailored WASH services to meet their needs, choices, and impairments? | People with disabilities and women/girls receive specific, appropriate, and effective WASH services. For people with disabilities, this includes reasonable adjustments made/supported, when necessary. For women/girls, this may include services specific to menstrual health and hygiene |
| 3. | Entitlement | Does the policy indicate entitlements for people with disabilities and women/girls (e.g., respite grant or reduced user fee), and how they may qualify for specific benefits relevant to them? | People with disabilities and women/girls who have limited resources are entitled to some services free of charge or at a sliding scale tariff, especially if in unpaid work |
| 4. | Capability-based services | Does the policy recognize the capabilities of people with disabilities and women/girls? | For instance, programs including peer support, mentoring, and group advocacy. People with disabilities and women/girls are meaningfully represented in WASH committees. For people with disabilities, programs may be implemented by Organizations of Persons with Disabilities (OPDs) |
| 5. | Participation | Does the policy support the right of people with disabilities and women/girls to participate in the decisions that affect their lives and enhance their empowerment? | People with disabilities and women/girls can exercise choices and influence decisions affecting their life. Consultation may include planning, development, implementation, and evaluation |
| 6. | Coordination of services | Does the policy support assistance of people with disabilities and women/girls in accessing services from within a single provider system (inter-agency) or more than one provider system (intra-agency) or more than one sector (inter-sectoral)? | People with disabilities and women/girls know how services should interact where inter-agency, intra-agency, and inter-sectoral collaboration is required. This includes coordination between health services, schools, households, and public places, with regard to WASH. Additional coordination opportunities include the WASH sector with the private sector, civil society, and rights groups |
| 7. | Protection from harm | Does the policy outline that people with disabilities and women/girls are to be protected from harm during their interaction with WASH and related services? | People with disabilities and women/girls are protected from harm during their interaction with WASH services and health-related systems, as well as from families and the community who may have negative attitudes about WASH for people with disabilities and women/girls (e.g., topics such as menstrual hygiene) |
| 8. | Liberty | Does the policy support the right of people with disabilities and women/girls to be free from unwarranted physical or other confinement? | People with disabilities and women/girls are protected from unwarranted physical or other confinement while in the custody of the service system/provider. This includes at home and a healthcare service |
| 9. | Autonomy | Does the policy support the right of people with disabilities and women/girls to consent, refuse to consent, withdraw consent, or otherwise control or exercise choice or control over what happens to them? | People with disabilities and women/girls can express “independence” or “self-determination”. For instance, a person with an intellectual disability will have recourse to an independent third party regarding issues of consent and choice. Or, as another example, a husband is not to make decisions for his wife |
| 10. | Privacy | Does the policy address the need for information regarding people with disabilities and women/girls to be kept private and confidential? | Information regarding people with disabilities and women/girls need not be shared among others |
| 11. | Integration | Does the policy promote the use of mainstream services by people with disabilities and women/girls? | People with disabilities and women/girls are supported to use the WASH services that are provided for the general population |
| 12. | Contribution | Does the policy recognize that people with disabilities and women/girls can be productive contributors to society? | People with disabilities and women/girls make a meaningful contribution to society and the WASH sector |
| 13. | Family resource | Does the policy recognize the value of the family members of people with disabilities and women/girls in addressing WASH needs? | The document recognizes the value of family members of people with disabilities and women/girls as a resource for addressing WASH needs |
| 14. | Family support | Does the policy recognize individual members of people with disabilities and women/girls may have an impact on the family members requiring additional support from WASH services? | Caring for persons with disabilities and women/girls may impact other family members (e.g., mental health), such that these family members themselves require support |
| 15. | Cultural responsiveness | Does the policy ensure that services respond to the beliefs, values, gender, interpersonal styles, attitudes, cultural, ethnic or linguistic, aspects of the person, as well as personal safety and dignity? | (i) People with disabilities and women/girls are consulted on the acceptability of the service provided; (ii) Hygiene facilities, goods, and services are respectful of ethical principles and culturally appropriate, i.e., respectful of the culture of people with disabilities |
| 16. | Accountability | Does the policy specify to whom, and for what, services providers are accountable? | People with disabilities and women/girls have access to internal and independent professional evaluation or procedural safeguard. Law/regulations provide mechanisms that ensure complaints are effectively heard and there are clear systems for people to lodge these complaints. Judicial bodies are available to resolve conflicts, for both public and private institutions |
| 17. | Prevention | Does the policy support people with disabilities and women/girls in seeking primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention of health conditions associated with WASH? | Includes WASH-related illnesses and details on how people with disabilities and women/girls can seek primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention of health conditions. For example, Trachoma, Soil-Transmitted Helminths—intestinal worms, Lymphatic Flariasis, Leprosy, urinary tract infections |
| 18. | Capacity building | Does the policy support the capacity building of health workers and of the system that they work in addressing WASH needs of people with disabilities and women/girls? | Includes awareness raising among communities and families on disability and on the specific issues/barriers facing people with disabilities and women/girls |
| 19. | Access | Does the policy support people with disabilities and/or women/girls—physical, economic, and information access to WASH services? | People with disabilities and women/girls have accessible and safe WASH services within, or in the immediate vicinity, of household, health, and educational institution, public institutions, and workplace. All information must be understandable and in an appropriate format |
| 20. | Quality | Does the policy support quality services to people with disabilities and women/girls through evidence-based and professionally skilled practice? Does the policy promote innovation in WASH services for people with disabilities and women/girls (e.g., technology)? | People with disabilities and women/girls are assured that services are based on best practice/evidence and support innovative strategies/technology |
| 21. | Efficiency | Does the policy support efficiency by providing a structured way of matching WASH system resources with service demands in addressing WASH needs of people with disabilities and women/girls? | WASH services are sustainable for people with disabilities and women/girls. Services will be available at times of financial crisis and will ensure appropriate technology choices. Contracts with providers take into account operation and maintenance, and funds from donors are sustainable |