Analysis of a small scale water project in Gopalgonj from the perspective of a gender analytical framework

Abstract

The National Women development Policy 1997 and the National Water Policy 1999 of Bangladcsh emphasize the importance or promoting gender equity by involving men and women at different levels in water resources programme~, ineluding decision making and implemcntation, Accordingly, the Small Scale Water Re~ourccs Development Sector Projects (SSWRDSP) of Local Government Engineering Department (LOED) attributes high priority in promoting gender equity in participation, in decision making and in implementation phases of the projects. Thi~ study assessed the extent of gender equality achieved in a SSWRDSP, namely Balajtala-Kalmadanga Subproject in the southwest region of the country. Specifie emphasis was identification of strengths and gap, of v,'ater concerned gender equality issues in the project area. The asSe5sment tool used was lhc Harvard Analytical framework, which u:;es four interrelated component~, Activity Profile, Access and Control Profile, Factors Influencing Access and Control and Project eycle Analysis. Accordingly, four major areas werc focused in (he study: increase of cmployment sector due to water project establishment; gendcr equality in case of access and COlltrol over the resources (such as land, water, income and capital) and benelit, (such as crcdit program, tmining, canal cxcavation, pre-harvesting activities, harve,ling activities, post harvesting activities, improved well being, dccision making); factors those are considered as opportunity (such as watcr control structure, training, crcdit program, instilutional arrangement and legislation) and constraint (such a~ fund, lack of concero on gender i~sues ,hawed by LGED, Water Management Cooperative Association, norms & religious values for gender cquality progress in the study area); and practical and strategic needs of the people. Results show that gcnder equality progress is satisfactory in three components oftbe framework, while progres~ is far less in somc areas (e.g. O&M, dccision making, land ownership and association with credit programs). Tbe study make~ somc recommendatiolls for thc enhancement of gender equality in such water resourees projects.