Gender

Updated - Monday 08 October 2007

Prabha Khosla, Christine van Wijk (IRC), Joep Verhagen, Viju James (2004)

A fundamental principle of any gender-sensitive approach is that it does not just focus on changing the role of women. It is natural that many of the advocacy messages and policy recommendations should emphasise the need to enhance women’s involvement in decision making and management of water programmes. Almost always though there is an implicit change in the established role, behaviour and practices of men. Gender equality does not mean that men and women have to do the same things. It means that the strengths and attributes of both sexes should be used to full advantage. That applies at all levels, from the household to the highest levels of management. Usually it means that power structures, working practices, timings of meetings, legislation and financing systems need to be reviewed to create greater opportunities for women’s talents and skills to be mobilised, but without adding to their existing heavy workloads.

GWA identified several countries in which gender principles had permeated water policy and legislation, but many more where they had not gone beyond high-level endorsement of international statements. South Africa received special praise for the way that it had brought gender and poverty issues into consideration of water rights and planning of water programmes. The GWA report quotes a checklist of questions prepared by Barbara Schreiner, Senior Executive Manager (Policy and Regulation) in South Africa’s Department of Water Affairs and Forestry. The questions help to assess whether a water policy incorporates equity on gender and equity for poor men and women. Many countries may find answers to the questions embarrassing; the idea is to monitor them regularly and take corrective action to improve the answers.

In this TOP, we revisit some of the arguments that have led to the international pressure for gender equity in human and social development. It provides a refresher course for those whose commitment to the gender cause has been frustrated by inaction at government or agency level, and a primer for those coming new to the topic of gender and water. The fact that many of the references in the TOP date back ten years and more is an indication of the difficulties gender advocates have experienced in achieving progress. The Case Studies are newer and they offer cause for hope that more and more countries can follow the South African lead and make their development planning appropriate for all members of society.

The full document can be downloaded using the PDF link below. Further down, you will find a clickable outline that will give you a summary of the TOP in web text.