Over half the population of Pakistan do not have access to safe drinking water and more than 40,000 children die every year from diarrhoea caused by unsafe water and poor sanitation.
Addressing the lack of water and sanitation facilities is the most effective way of tackling poverty, promoting economic development and achieving gender equality in the country.
IRSP’s works cuts across many themes such as livelihoods, health, education and capacity building, but its activities are especially focused in WASH (water, sanitation and hygiene).
The local organisation improves access for vulnerable people to safe drinking water and sanitation through household water treatment and solid waste management systems.
IRSP also promotes hygiene practices and menstrual hygiene programmes in schools and advocates for policy reforms in the water and sanitation sector.
IRSP has become a WASH resource centre and the leading agency in the implementation of two innovative approaches to hygiene and sanitation in Pakistan: Community Led Total Sanitation (CLTS) and Menstrual Hygiene Management (MHM).
Photos: Fawad Rizvi