Water insecurity and gender-based violence

Exploring links and steps for prevention: a comparative study of Indonesian and Peruvian women.

Project funder

British Academy

Project lead

Dr Stroma Cole (UWE Bristol)

Research partners/collaborators

• Paula Tallman (Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú)
• Gabi Salmon (Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú)
• Titi Binahayati (Universitas Padjadjaran, Indonesia)

Project duration

April 2020 - current

Project summary

Gender-based violence (GBV) is one of the most prevalent public health threats in the world today, with as many as one out of every four women affected. As water insecurity continues to grow, will women be at greater risk from domestic violence?

This research will use mixed methods to examine whether water insecurity is associated with GBV and, if so, under what circumstances? Specifically, we will extend Household Water Insecurity Experiences (HWISE), a cross-culturally validated, internationally-used scale to explore household level water insecurity and add a section dedicated to GBV. The quantitative survey will be combined with storytelling and participative workshops with health and water management practitioners to explore policies and practices that contribute to women’s vulnerability or resilience.

This research is a collaboration between international and local non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and practitioners in Peru and Indonesia to ensure efficacy of policy recommendations locally and their applicability globally.