Our Vision

1 Who?

We do not work alone: we team up with our in-country civil society partners who are rooted in and understand the local and national contexts we work in, and with other international organisations with complementary expertise and experience.

2 Where?

Together with our partners, we work in ten focus countries: Ghana, Indonesia, India, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Malawi, Ethiopia, Nepal and Bangladesh. Most of the areas where we work are heavily affected by climate change.

3 Why not men?

Women and girls are especially affected by inadequate access to water and sanitation, and also by climate change, but they are often excluded from decision-making processes. As a result, women and girls’ needs and priorities, as rights holders, are often ignored or addressed in ways that are not effective. Simavi believes that participation by women and girls in decision-making is essential to realise human rights to water and sanitation and create more gender equal societies. We do engage and work with men, and want them to benefit from change, but we start from women’s needs and perspectives.

5 Healthier?

We subscribe to the WHO definition: ‘Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.’ Health is a fundamental human right inherent to all human beings, regardless of race, sex, nationality, ethnicity, language, religion or any other status.

4 Their rights?

Having access to safe drinking water and sanitation is central to living a life in dignity and upholding human rights. The human rights to water and sanitation requires that drinking water, water for personal and domestic use, and sanitation and hygiene facilities are available, sufficient, accessible, safe, acceptable and affordable for all without discrimination.

6 Just?

All people should be treated equally and enjoy equal rights and opportunities. To achieve social justice it is essential that the most affected people and groups, including women and girls, become a meaningful part of decision-making structures and systems.

Our vision: Simavi1 strives for a world2 in which all women and girls3 enjoy their human rights4 to water and sanitation, resulting in healthier5 and just6 societies.