Toolkit on gender in water and sanitation

Abstract

This 181 page toolkit addresses gender issues in the water and sanitation sector. It defines gender and explains why gender analysis (asking gender specific questions in order to identify different developmental needs) is important in dealing with water and sanitation management. The toolkit lists 10 lessons learned from previous projects, these are: Lesson 1 - gender is a central concern in water and sanitation. Due to the gender-based division of labor, men and women have different roles and responsibilities in water and sanitation. Lesson 2 - ensuring both men and women's participation improves project performance. Lesson 3 - specific, simple mechanisms must be created to ensure women's involvement. Lesson 4 - attention to gender needs to start as early as possible. Lesson 5 - gender analysis is integral to project identification and data collection. Lesson 6 - a learning approach is more gender-responsive than blueprint approaches. Lesson 7 - projects are more effective when both women's and men's preferences about 'hardware' are addressed. Lesson 8 - Women and men promote project goals through both traditional and nontraditional roles. Lesson 9 - NGO's and especially women's groups can facilitate a gender-balanced approach. Lesson 10 - gender-related indicators should be included when assessing project performance. The toolkit shares examples of good practices on gender in water and sanitation from countries such as Brazil, Lesotho, Nepal and Sri Lanka. The appendix includes recommendations on where to look for advice, terms of reference for consultants, sources of funding, selected references, learning tools, World Bank projects, and selected articles. It ends with a slide show presentation on gender issues in water and sanitation.