Water
Issues:
Water Supply
Sanitation
Water for Agriculture
Equitable access to drinking water and sanitation for all is a Human Right and one of the major challenges of the 21st century. Hundreds of millions of people are deprived of water, not because it is a rare resource, but because it is badly and unequally distributed. Evenmore people are lacking access to acceptable sanitation services (toilets) and hygiene.
Water for subsistence agriculture, animal husbandry and the production of marketable goods is often lacking, unequally and unpredictably managed, and therefore enhances inequality.
Water is not “gender neutral” and inputs and opinions of both men and women are needed to allow a good, efficient and equal water management. Women and men have different and changing gender roles which are bound up with relations of unequal power. Women and men have different access to power and assets. Women are often not heard in consultations. Women are often not involved in management or decision-making. Therefore a gender perspective which seeks to include an understanding of gender roles and relations and how these affect and are affected by interventions in drinking water, basic sanitation and water for agriculture can ensure greater sustainability and resource efficiency and can increase the number of beneficiaries.
Gender issues apply to macro- as well as micro-planning, implementing and monitoring in the water sector. A gender perspective must be applied in the policy dialogue in the water sector.
Links:
SDC: Water
GWA: Gender and Water Alliance
UN: Water for life: 2005-2015
GEWAMED: Mainstreaming Gender Dimension Into Water Resources Development and Management in the Mediterranean Region
Publications:
Siyanda: Mainstreaming Gender Equality
Gender and Water Alliance GWA: The Gender and Water Development Report 2003: Gender Perspectives on Policies in the Water Sector
The gender perspective in development cooperation includes an analysis of gender roles and relations and of how these affect and are affected by water and sanitation interventions.This information ensures greater sustainability and resource efficiency and can therefore increase the number of beneficiaries having sustainable access. Experience has shown that interventions which include the views and input of both men and women generally work better. In Public-private-development-partnerships for water and sanitation, gender equality issues earn special attention and a careful gender sensitive monitoring.
Links:
Gender and Water Alliance GWA: Gender, Domestic Water Supply and Hygiene
Publications:
UN 2006: Gender, Water and Sanitation: Case Studies on Best Practices
In most societies women play the central role in sanitation and hygiene. They have primary responsibility for household water supply and sanitation. Therefore in development efforts concerning sanitation women’s strong involvement has to be recognized and the specific needs and concerns of men, women and children have to be taken into account.
Links:
Publications:
Siyanda: Mainstreaming Gender Equality
UN Water 2006: Gender, Water and Sanitation: A Policy Brief
Women play a key role in subsistence agriculture and the production for the market. Their knowledge and opinions have to taken into account in planning, implementing and monitoring of interventions. There is a need to fully explore women’s experience and sense for economic aspects in primary production.
