About Female LAM
Empowering women with technical skills in WASH services to improve project sustainability in communities across Nigeria.
Our Mission
Why Women?
Critical to making clean water, decent toilets, and good hygiene normal for everyone, everywhere within a generation; is being gender responsive in the whole spectrum of delivery of WASH services.
From planning through implementation to monitoring and maintenance, women need to be involved, not only as users but as active decision makers and solution providers.
While women are more likely to bear the brunt of poor access to WASH services, the entire sector in a lot of developing countries is largely dominated by men. WaterAid Nigeria is determined to accelerate change and drive more gender inclusion in the provision and maintenance of WASH facilities by building the capacity of women and empowering them to play more active roles.
200 Million Hours
Women and girls spend daily collecting water worldwide (UNICEF)
85%
Improvement in knowledge after our training programs
20+
Female LAMs trained in our pilot program in Lagos State
The Challenge We Address
Disproportionate Impact
Lack of access to WASH services disproportionately affects women and girls who are traditionally responsible for water collection and sanitation.
Time Burden
Without functional WASH facilities close to home, women often travel long distances, exposing them to various risks including abuse and ill-health.
Representation Gap
The responsibility women bear as primary WASH users is not matched with representation in service provision and decision-making processes.
Our Training Process
Comprehensive 3-day training workshop for female Local Area Mechanics (LAMs)
Selection Criteria
Our careful selection process ensures we train motivated candidates:
- 18 years and above
- Physically fit for technical tasks
- Willing to improve their finances through training
- Resident in focal Local Council Development Areas
- Strong interest in becoming a local area mechanic
- Ability to comprehend (no educational requirements)
Training Modules
Day 1
Water supply systems, operation & maintenance basics, water sources, treatment systems, and storage facilities
Day 2
Pipelines maintenance, power supply systems, pumps/pumping stations, safety requirements, and maintenance management
Day 3
Field visit to solar-powered water facility for hands-on experience
Voices of Change
Hear from our trained female mechanics
"It will transform my life in a way that people will come to me and say you are a woman and you're doing this job. They won't believe it and from there they will keep giving me job. It will take me places where I have never been before and give me the opportunity to meet a lot of people."
"The future I see in this career as a local area mechanic is that I see places in my local government having good water systems that are in good sanitary conditions."