1 Jul, 2025
Held in July 2025 in Delhi, the AIWASI Roundtable convened community members, government officials, practitioners and development partners to reflect on inclusive and climate-resilient urban water and sanitation solutions. Hosted by the consortium partners of Australia India Water Security Initiative (AIWASI), the event foregrounded lived experiences, especially those of women and persons with disabilities, in shaping water-sensitive interventions.
Participants highlighted how structured community engagement — through leadership training, participatory tools and locally-driven action planning — has enabled residents to identify, prioritize and address issues such as solid waste, flooding and access to green spaces. Emphasizing intersectionality, speakers underlined the need to integrate disability-inclusive WASH design within broader planning systems, backed by community-led audits and retrofitted solutions.
Discussions also stressed the value of strengthening data systems, promoting hybrid governance models, and moving beyond binary roles of ‘community’ and ‘expert’. The event reinforced AIWASI’s commitment to embedding gender equality, disability, and social inclusion (GEDSI) across policy and practice.
As Ms. Babita, a community member from Mubarakpur Dabas, reflected: “We feel empowered — not just with knowledge, but with the confidence to co-develop solutions for our neighborhood.”
