Q&A with Cécile Laborderie |  Women in WASH Leadership Series

Cécile Laborderie, Water Sanitation and Hygiene Sector Leader, SNV Netherlands Development Organisation

A fierce women’s advocate, Cécile Laborderie is brilliant at leading teams and projects. Her strength alone makes her a role model for other women in the WASH space. She’s used that strength to overcome the barriers that, unfortunately, exist for women in the field.

How did you step into your most recent role?

I have worked in relief and development projects, mostly for NGOs, for over 20 years. I was also a vermicomposting toilet business developer for three years. Currently I am responsible for the management of WASH projects for an NGO in Indonesia. I have usually gone through regular job application processes, either by contacting organizations I was interested in working for, or by responding to job offers. For the last couple of years I have put a bit more effort into networking and not only is it efficient, it is also enjoyable.

Describe your educational background and how it has prepared you for your success in the industry.

I have two master’s degrees, one in Political Science from The Grenoble Institute of Political Studies and another in Development Economics from Pantheon-Sorbonne University –- both in France. When I graduated in 1993, I already wanted to work within environmental topics, especially solid waste and water, but there were no universities offering these courses back then in France. There were no computers, let alone the internet. The conventional education in Political Science and Economics has provided me with a good knowledge of public policies, institutions, governance and economics and good analytical skills.

I, subsequently, took many courses (online and in-person) – mainly in sanitation – from UNESCO  Institute for Water Education (Delft), Loughborough University/WEDC, UNITAR, Eawag, IRC etc.

Most of the online courses were amazing in terms of quality, which enabled me to get the technical knowledge while continuing to work. Some of these courses are free or low-cost. It is a very nice way to test your interests and abilities.

What has been the most significant challenge and/or obstacle on this journey, and how did you overcome it? 

I believe the challenge is to get working experience in a competitive environment where most types of contracts are short-term. It really takes years of prospecting and sending out CVs every time a contract comes to the end before you finally get clients to call you when they have a need for an “expert” with your profile.

It is quite recent that non-engineers are acknowledged and that projects value experts with a variety of skills in the WASH sector.

How do you suggest males support other females in the industry ? 

I suggest that males should have an open mind about any student, applicant or colleague wanting to work or already working in the WASH sector. Just look at the person’s skills, experience and desire, and support the person based on that without being biased. There is a huge difference when you engage with a male colleague who doubts your ability because you are a woman, or believes it is very weird that a woman is working with feces.

What organizational structures or improvements do you believe would make the work-life balancing easier for women who embark on starting a family? 

The work-life balancing has been a very strong challenge for me as a mother of three, and working full-time. Many organizations value working late in the evening, during the weekend and so on. I think for both the sake of men and women, organizations should address the topic of systematic overtime. It is not a good sign of organizational efficiency and leads to family challenges. For women who embark on starting a family, I would suggest learning to know your own boundaries and only derail in exceptional circumstances. There was a time when there was no internet and holidays were holidays and it did not prevent us from being good professionals.

Also, do not allow yourself to feel guilty – children with working mothers make their way just as fine as those children with stay-at-home mothers.

What is your proudest achievement and how has it shaped you as a person and transformed your career?

I had several turning points and every time what shaped me was someone trusting me to “do the job”. When I was called to be the team leader of a high-level team in West Africa, I was ‘dead scared’ of taking on the responsibility. I would never have applied for the job of my own accord. I am proud that I was able to lead the team successfully, that we learned from each other and that we were able to support several NGOs in making their work more impactful.

What makes me proud is when I feel that the work that we do in WASH has an impact and is reasonably sustainable. I especially like to work with entrepreneurs, such as emptiers, masons and manual workers.

When I see that business is growing and workers are proud of their job or when conflictual situations are solved increasing access to services for communities, I am grateful I was able to contribute. Collaboration makes me proud as well  – the way all parties are thinking together and shaping the solutions. I like the collective effort and intense reflection on what we do.

What steps do you believe should be taken to attract more women into the WASH industry?

One key issue is to showcase existing opportunities. Access to information is essential. Initiatives like increasing the number of women speakers and facilitators in international conferences, encouraging women to apply to university courses in the WASH sector, highlighting women’s career paths – just as ROCKblue is doing right now.

What is your advice to young women who feel overlooked, passed by, or may have been sexually harassed in the workplace?

A workplace should be a place where you thrive and learn, where you make mistakes and work on them, where you face challenges and overcome them. If you feel you are not given enough responsibilities, you are not supported as a junior should be, speak out and express how you feel and what kind of support you need.

Sexual or professional harassment is done by predators. They cannot be changed, so put your safety first. If you are harassed, inform the relevant superior and consider looking for another job immediately. If you have been harassed, it is not your fault. You will see that it is true when you get a job in a professionally positive working environment.

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