Gender

Since one of the main objectives of the IPSWAM programme is to ensure full and appropriate people’s participation at all stages of the water resources rehabilitation project, special attention is given to gender issues.

The IPSWAM planning approach therefore:

• Values men’s and women’s experience and knowledge about existing water management systems and possibilities for improvement.
• Recognizes women’s needs and interest in water management in their locality.
• Recognizes men’s and women’s complementary roles and responsibilities to increase efficiency of polder water management.
• Promotes both genders’ contribution in problem identification, option development for polder rehabilitation, implementation, operation and maintenance.

Specific activities carried out to emphasize the gender importance are:

• Review local Women’s perspective on water management in planning studies.
• Collect gender segregated data.
• Consider women’s needs in option development for water management system improvement.
• Ensure there are women staff for mobilizing women and promote an enabling environment to ensure the full participation of women in WMOs.
• Promote and disseminate the IPSWAM gender approach at all levels of WMOs as well as within the BWDB.
• Provide gender training to WMOs and BWDB staff members.
• Support BWDB in institutionalizing gender (the projects involvement in the approval and implementation of the BWDB gender equity strategy is an example of this process). Gender equity strategy and action plan