Climate Impacts on Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH), Risk Mitigation, and Sustainable Development: The Case of Informal Settlements in Eastern Uganda

Climate shocks disrupt household access to safe water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH), consequently affecting the attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). However, there is limited evidence of the relationship between household characteristics and climate impacts, as well as risk mitigation. Guided by nexus thinking and with the aid of an adapted questionnaire informed by the World Health Organisation's checklist for assessing vulnerabilities in healthcare facilities in the context of climate change, this study analysed empirical data from 589 households to establish the relationship between household characteristics and flood and drought impacts as well as risk mitigation. The study revealed that more than a fifth (22.4%) of the households experienced disruption to their wastewater or sewerage systems, and 21.4% had reduced water quality due to animal faeces and sewage being washed into surface water. Living in temporary housing or having a disabled household member increased vulnerability to floods, unlike living in higher altitude areas or having a higher subjective socioeconomic status. Having a higher subjective social status was associated with lower drought impact scores, whereas living in temporary housing was not. Living in semi-permanent or temporary housing reduced drought risk mitigation. Our study concludes that climate shocks affect WASH in households in informal settlements and have cascading effects on SDGs. Drought and floods compromise health and well-being, education, food security, gender equality, poverty reduction, and peace. There is a need for partnerships and nexus thinking in tackling global environmental change and its impacts on society.