The international human rights-based commitment to the provision of basic services for all has yet to be realized in practice for a large percentage of the urban poor, especially about access to safe and appropriate sanitation. This research assumed that underlying the reason for this disparity is the lack of clarity on ‘who’ constitutes the urban poor, what determines ‘appropriate sanitation’, and how access can be equitable and appropriate about gender.

This report is the outcome of a two-year research study undertaken in India, Bangladesh, and Kenya to analyze the above questions. The purpose of this report is to establish broad guidelines as a foundation for effective interventions in sanitation improvements for those living in urban poverty.