Evaluating the human right to water and sanitation: the use of participatory diagnosis tools at a local level

Abstract

Participatory analysis frameworks can help realize the Human Right to Water and Sanitation (HRtWS) by helping stakeholders self-assess how equitable is access to water and sanitation services, achieving a better understanding of the rights to water and sanitation and their principles, and raising awareness. This article presents the experiences of Castelló (Spain), Lima (Peru) and Barcelona (Spain) in using the “Equitable Access Score-card” to analyze the equity of access to safe drinking water and sanitation in these three cities. The aim is to compare and discuss the three different ways in which the diagnosis tool was applied. Results show that, although all three approaches served as a first-assessment and overview of the HRtWS by sector stakeholders at local level, developing an effective inter-stakeholder collaboration was pivotal for these participatory diagnosis tools to have significant impact.