Gender in Water and Sanitation

From the World Bank Water and Sanitation Program (WSP), this working paper highlights approaches to redressing gender inequality in the water and sanitation sector. The review is intended for sector ministries, donors, citizens, development banks, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), and water and sanitation service providers committed to mainstreaming gender in the sector.

The chapters highlight in a short summary form experiences of mainstreaming gender at various levels in the water and sanitation sector. It begins with a discussion on gender responses to policy and its requirement for analysis and clear policy objectives to guide operations. The second section touches on experiences of mainstreaming gender within sector operations, beginning with the importance of mainstreaming in the workplace. It goes on to describe how gender can be addressed within service delivery in urban water, in sanitation, in small towns' and rural water operations. Section three addresses gender responses to monitoring and evaluation processes, while the fourth section examines responses to gender issues within accountability and voice initiatives. Section five assesses gender responses within hygiene and behaviour change programmes, while section six examines the linkages between water, sanitation, and HIV/AIDS. This is followed by an assessment of the way ahead. In each section, good mainstreaming practices are highlighted, while a checklist - each of which includes indicators - summarises key points for practitioners to consider when planning or reviewing gender responses. In sum, the checklists include:

1. "Checklist 1: Mainstreaming gender at policy level
   • Has gender analysis been undertaken to inform national policy responses to gender issues in the water and sanitation sector at country level?
   • Has an institutional audit been done to identify gaps in lead ministry capacity and practice, in responding to gender issues?
   • Are specific gender objectives articulated within national water and sanitation policies and strategies?
   • Do policies address issues in women's participation and representation and target pockets of vulnerability to promote equity?
   • Do the lead water and sanitation sector ministries and its appointed agencies allocate resources for gender mainstreaming activities?
   • Does sector policy address barriers facing both men and women in making productive use of water e.g. for household, livestock, drip irrigation or cottage industries?
   • Do sector agencies operating at the national level, have gender policies to align and inform their investment and do they support national government to fulfill mainstreaming policy goals?
   • Do national level stakeholders (government, donors, civil society, research agencies) regularly incorporate gender considerations in studies, reviews or research commissioned to progress sector goals?
2. Checklist 2: Mainstreaming gender in operations
   • Is there an internal work place gender policy and strategy which takes cognizance of national and sector gender targets?
   • Is there institutional awareness and commitment to promote equality in representation between women and men in the water agency; equal compensation for equal work, and equal opportunities for training?
   • Is capacity being built for staff to address gender issues in urban and rural water and sanitation programs?
   • Are performance-based contracts or similar boundaries in place to compel staff to pursue gender mainstreaming objectives and incentives to reward them for doing so?
   • Are resources allocated to implement gender strategies (e.g. participatory approaches, gender assessments, specially targeted projects) within agency service activities?
   • Have urban and small utilities adopted services to the poor as a key corporate objective and employed gender trained staff to address the numerous gender issues in poorer areas?
   • Is there a national strategy for sanitation in schools, with emphasis on safe, separate, well-maintained facilities for girls and boys?
   • Do implementation and communication strategies inform women and men how to participate equitably in all phases of the WSS [water supply and sanitation] cycle?
   • Is there equal participation of men and women at all stages: initiation, design, site location, implementation, price setting, O&M [operations and maintenance] and management?
   • Are there equal economic opportunities from WSS interventions?
3. Checklist 3: Mainstreaming gender in monitoring and evaluation frameworks
   • Have gender sensitive indicators been incorporated within the national WSS sector M&E [monitoring and evaluation] framework to capture inputs, processes, outcomes and impact data?
   • Is sector monitoring data disaggregated by sex and age?
   • Are resources allocated by agencies to monitor gender within the WSS project cycle?
   • Are there indicators to monitor not only the existence of facilities and services, but also the usage of these services and hygiene behavior?
   • Are lessons learnt regarding implementation of specific gender equality objectives being documented?
4. Checklist 4: Strengthening the voice of men and women
   • Are sector meetings at community level organized to overcome cultural barriers to women’s participation, (cultural norms, seating arrangements, language and meeting times)?
   • Do operational agencies provide information for decision making on policies, strategies, plans and investments, in a format that is user-friendly and accessible to women, marginalized groups and the organizations that represent them?
   • Do policy makers and regulatory bodies make use of feedback mechanisms for complaints and challenges faced by citizens from their providers, including those on lower levels of service, such as for those relying on stand pipes and kiosks?
   • Do agencies allow citizens to influence their plans, budgets and strategies, based on the voices of both women and men?
   • Do service providers demonstrate commitment to the citizen voice by utilizing tools like citizens' charters, ICT [information and communication technology], satisfaction surveys, toll free lines and effective complaint desks?
   • Is civil society supported in holding service providers and power holders accountable for their performance and behavior?
5. Checklist 5: Mainstreaming gender in behaviour change initiatives
   • Are there studies to understand citizen baseline behavior, and appropriate communication channels and triggers for change by both men and women?
   • Are both men and women given equal attention in their role promoting hygiene and training activities?
   • Is hygiene promotion packaged with water and sanitation facilities to ensure behavior change is supported by enabling facilities to impact positively on women and children under 5?
   • Are hygiene promotion interventions targeted at primary schools?
   • Are sanitation interventions maximizing the potential of community dynamics and social norms to increase rural sanitation coverage and improve hygiene behavior?
6. Checklist 6: Gender responses to HIV/AIDS
   • Do sector agencies - ministries, utilities and private operators - have an HIV/AIDS work place program?
   • Is there willingness within sector agency staff to be tested?
   • Do water and sanitation strategies incorporate PLWA [people living with AIDS] and their caregivers as special needs groups?
   • Are there capacity building programs for PLWA and their caregivers?"

"The development of water and sanitation services provides an opportunity to improve not only the living conditions of citizens, but also their sense of empowerment and capacity for self-determination. By incorporating women's as well as men's concerns and experiences in the sector, lessons show that equality can be promoted, more skills can be availed for development and the sector can increase its relevance and impact on society as a whole."