Mainstreaming gender in IWRM the case of small scale water resources development sector project

Abstract

The aim of this study is to examine the status of mainstreaming gender at field level in three LGED subprojects under SSWRDSP - I, II & III at all six project cycles, where gender issues are addressed as per guidelines and policy of LGED and review the policy, strategy and action plan of GoB related with mainstreaming gender in Bangladesh. Three subprojects, one from each phase are randomly selected for the study. The selected three subprojects are - i) Brajamul Bhiti Khal (Flood Control Drainage and Water Conservation) subproject in Pangsha, Rajbari under SSWRDSP-I, ii) Gumuria (Water Conservation) Subproject in Haluaghat, Mymensingh under SSWRDSP-II and iii) Purba Sarail Madai (Drainage and Water Conservation) in Kalai, Joypurhat under PSSWRSP or SSWRDSP-III. A comprehensive literature review was done including policy documents of the concerned ministries, organizations of Bangladesh using different sources like IWFM, BUET library, published hard copy, existing documents, study reports, inception reports, feasibility reports, and project/subproject completion reports from various organizations, journal publications using internet, etc. As a result of this review, a fair idea regarding the status of mainstreaming gender in Bangladesh was tried to understand. Through critical review strengths, weaknesses, gaps in addressing gender issues were found and scopes of improvement were identified. Accordingly recommendations are made to modify the present policies by incorporating proposed scopes of improvement in the existing policies. Both qualitative and quantitative questionnaire methods were followed for assessing the achievement of mainstreaming gender through project cycle analysis. Questionnaire sets were prepared to have background information of respondents by randomly selecting 25 samples from each of the three subprojects. The contents of questionnaire were closed types and were developed using 33 (thirty three) indicators. These indicators assisted in quantifying gender mainstreaming through project cycle analysis. Gender involvement and participatory process in the project cycles were evaluated looking into the procedure followed by involving women, landless, marginalized and poor people in the project by analyzing the replies “yes” and “no” as %. General questionnaires were also aimed to reveal the involvements, approaches and attitudes of water professionals, gender specialists, project consultants – designers and planners, LGED officials to consider relevant gender sensitive issues like enhancement of participation of gender in project activities and ownership building, gender consideration is as tokenism or not, percentage of female members comparing to male in different activities. General Discussions (GD), Focus Group Discussions (FGD), Case Studies and KIIs were used for this purpose. The Project Cycle Analysis included six components as phase wise. Weaknesses found in all project cycles were analyzed and graphically presented, where improvement of gender participation was visible in Phases I, II, and III. Accordingly scopes of improvement were found and suggestions were made. No remarkable strength in gender mainstreaming was found in Phase I and II, while gender mainstreaming was visible during Phase III. The scope of improvement found in the study should be taken care by IWRM Unit of LGED for mainstreaming gender in SSWRDSP project. Quantitative analysis using 33 indicators also shows that mainstreaming gender has gradually gained upper trend through Phase I, II & III in the field of gender involvement. Positive trends are observed in attending in project briefing orientation, reconnaissance survey, feasibility study, PRA, GD, FGD and survey. A negative trend is observed in rights of water for all users, in voice for rights, in attending the meeting, in design discussion meeting, in percentage of women member in WMCA, in giving opinion to designer, in pre-evaluation of local resources, in bye law drafting of WMCA, in attending in drawing understanding meeting, in LCS members to implement earth work, in equal wage rate for men and women, in attending in LCS training and in construction of separate toilet facility for women workers, etc. For carrying out qualitative analysis, 10 (ten) general questionnaires of open type were formulated and developed to capture people’s opinions, attitudes and feelings about inclusion of gender issues in subproject identification/selection, subproject formulation and planning, design and Water Management Cooperative Association (WMCA) formation, implementation of subproject, operation and maintenance (O&M), monitoring and evaluation, etc. 21 indicators were formulated to find out qualitative changes happened in the sub projects and the analysis showed that gender relations and empowerment were visible from the very beginning of the project cycles. Women felt proud and sensitization of importance among them grew as a result of consultation with them. Their feelings and attitudes rose to a higher level. Participation of women was quite remarkable in GD, FGD, election of WMCA, meetings of WMCA, LCS activities, O&M activities etc. Their decisions and voices were valued in project activities. These positive feelings helped in achieving mainstreaming gender in all subprojects of SSWRDSP-I, II and III. 4 out of 12 members were elected from women in the executive body of WMCA, which was visible empowerment of women. Number of school going students was increased remarkably after sub-project implementation and food habit was also changed due to generation of income. Housing pattern was changed as income was increased by labour employment opportunity as well as crop production, microcredit mobility were also increased. A position woman in family was secured and relation to them was positively changed than earlier. Purchasing power of high valued clothes as well as land was increased. Gradual increase of voice of women in WMCA was visible day by day through their bold and strong participation in WMCA’s meetings and demonstration of their capability to face election individually. Problem solving capability of women in providing decision was enhanced in family as well as in community. Women and landless farmers were involved in earth work and plantation activities through LCS. This opportunity helped them to be economically solvent and empowered them increasing their status. Moreover, women as well as landless farmers received different types of IG trainings through which they were able to earn and reduce poverty. As a part of qualitative analysis, one case study from each subproject totaling to three case studies were carried out exclusively among earning women benefitted especially by the subproject to assess the status of mainstreaming gender among voiceless and powerless groups. Three women of three subprojects are gradually improving their status day by day in their family, in society by economically and by status. It has been revealed by the study that a lot of scopes of improvement are there in all gender and water related policies, strategies and action plans of GoB documents to mainstreaming gender. The study also showed that gender mainstreaming has been increased from Phase I to Phase II and from Phase II to Phase III in all subprojects of SSWRDSP. The trend of gender improvement has gradually got upward trend. Gender mainstreaming is possible to attain further, if scopes of improvement that are found in the study are followed as mentioned in the study.