Assessment of vulnerability to water scarcity through gender lens in the context of informal settlements

Abstract

Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh, is already posed with climate risks and water scarcity threat due to over dependency on groundwater, loss of surface water resources and poor water quality of peripheral rivers. As more people flock into the city, water supply will become a major challenge. The women in the informal settlements are often rendered a disadvantageous position because of gender roles and relationships. Since the urban poor are already not fully included into the authorized water distribution mechanism, they are more vulnerable. Unfortunately, existing methods of vulnerability assessment of water scarcity are often not suitable due to data unavailability and discontinuity of low-income residential areas. Hence, the study formulates a mixed method approach to develop a water scarcity vulnerability index. Utilizing the method, we forecasted the vulnerability of urban poor to water scarcity in Tejgaon railway slum for past, present, and upcoming decade. The index suggests combined degradation of groundwater, institutional and socioeconomic factors can potentially cause significantly greater vulnerability. It is also found that the already persisting effects of climate change have increased the vulnerability of the community and poses a greater threat when combination of variables are unfavorable. The gender assessment reveals how gendered societal roles and relations affect vulnerability and need for gender segregated data. Policy reviews pinpoints how existing policies contribute to the problem, but can assist to counter the vulnerability in future through amendments in vision, collaboration, and integrating climate and gender perspective. The results can help us understand how water scarcity threatens the most vulnerable community of the city for efficient, equitable and sustainable water management and policy formulation.