Gender Approaches

Gender definition

In all societies men and women play different roles, have different needs, and face different constraints. Gender roles differ from the biological roles of men and women, although they may overlap in nearly all societies. Gender roles are socially constructed. They demarcate responsibilities between men and women, social and economic activities, access to resources, and decisionmaking authority. Biological roles are fixed, but gender roles can and do change with social, economic, and technological change. Social factors underlie and support gender-based disparities. These factors include:

•Institutional arrangements that create and reinforce gender-based constraints or, conversely, foster an environment in which gender disparities can be reduced

•The formal legal system that reinforces customs and practice giving women inferior legal status in many countries

•Sociocultural attitudes and ethnic and class/caste-based obligations that determine men’s and women’s roles, responsibilities, and decisionmaking functions

•Religious beliefs and practices that limit women’s mobility, social contact, access to resources, and the types of activities they can pursue.

Gender in the Water and Sanitation sector

Gender approaches is often important in water and sanitation sector because women are particularly touched by the condition of access to water and sanitation : if a water system breaks down, women, not men, will most likely be the ones most affected, for they may have to travel further for water or use other means to meet the household’s water and hygiene needs.

It has been underlined in the Principle No. 3 of the Dublin principles (1992) that : “Women play a central part in the provision, management and safeguarding of water. This pivotal role of women as providers and users of water and guardians of the living environment has seldom been reflected in institutional arrangements for the development and management of water resources. Acceptance and implementation of this principle require positive policies to address women’s specific needs and to equip and empower women to participate at all levels in water resources programmes, including decision-making and implementation, in ways defined by them".

Gender approach in project management

Ten "Golden Rules" for a Gender Approach in Drinking Water and Sanitation Programmes:

1. Tailor information to all audiences

2. Gender and poverty analysis

3. Designing and planning WASH programmes

4. Organizations

5. Hygiene education

6. Training and employment

7. Means for improvements

8. Gender-sensitivity and skills

9. Staffing

10. Communication and accountability

Other references to consult :

•http://www.undp.org/women/docs/gendermanualfinalBCPR.pdf

•http://www.genderandwater.org/

•GTZ, 1998. Gender Training Tool Kit. Self-help Fund Project. This toolkit provides guidelines for participatory gender sensitisation training, outlining key concepts in raising gender awareness. The premise upon which the guidelines are based is experiential learning. The toolkit incorporates different techniques, exercises, and games, often utilising handouts, and prompts people to learn by analysing and reflecting on their experience. It includes tools for gender sensitisation, and for gender sensitive project planning. Available at: http://www.siyanda.org/docs_genie/gtz/Gen.trng.fin.doc

•UNDP, (no date). Gender Mainstreaming Learning and Information Packs .Although these Information Packs are meant to be resources for self-training, and for use in workshop situations devoted to gender mainstreaming, they can also be incorporated into workshops on other topics, to strengthen their potential for gender mainstreaming. Each Information Pack contains summary information, along with speaker’s notes, handouts, exercises, further reading and linkages to relevant Internet resources. Available at: http://www.undp.org/women/docs/GM_INFOPACK/GenderAnalysis1.doc

•Beyond Rhetoric: male involvement in gender and development policy and practice. Gender Training with Men. A collection of articles on reflections and pointers on gender training for men. The experiences include many different countries and cultures. Available at: http://www.brad.ac.uk/acad/dppc/gender/mandmweb/seminar5.html