As Communications and Networking Officer with the Sanitation Learning Hub (SLH) (formerly the CLTS Knowledge Hub), Elaine leads the communications and networking activities for the hub – encouraging debate online and offline around Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) issues, with a focus on participatory, community-centred approaches that lead to sustainable and inclusive sanitation and hygiene programming.

Elaine brings experience and enthusiasm to a variety of activities including: developing and managing the Sanitation Learning Hub website (launching in June 2020) and newsletters; facilitating international learning and sharing events; creating multimedia and written learning outputs (often through participatory approaches); leading on participatory visual methods research in the team and supporting SLH social media channels.

She has worked within international development for the past 15 years. Her background is in social anthropology and she has previously worked with international women’s rights, gender and sexuality focused NGOs. During her twelve years at IDS she has greatly enjoyed working with research and knowledge teams on a variety of essential development issues – including gender, sexuality, climate change, health, nutrition, conflict, governance and Community Led Total Sanitation (CLTS), amongst others. She is passionate about using and promoting creative, thoughtful, transformative approaches within development, for example, managing and facilitating digital storytelling and participatory video processes and outputs.