M4: Management: Planning, Implementation and Operation

M 4-3: Gender Aspects

(1) K. Gnanakan F. Charton UNICEF

Katharina Conradin, seecon international

Dr. Johannes Heeb, International Ecological Engineering Society & seecon international

Prof. Dr. Petter Jenssen, Department of Mathematical Sciences and Technology, Norwegian University of Life Sciences

Dr. Ken Gnanakan, ACTS Bangalore, India

© 2007

seeconInternational gmbh

ACTS

Credits

K. Conradin

Included in this CD-ROM are materials from various organisations and sources. The materials complied on this CD are available freely on the internet. Following the open-source concept for capacity building and non-profit use, copying is allowed provided proper acknowledgement of the source is made. The publication of these materials on this CD-ROM does not alter any existing copyrights. Material published on this CD for the first time follows the same open-source concept for capacity building and non-profit use, with all rights remaining with the original authors or producing organisations.

Therefore the user must always give credit in citations to the original author, source and copyright holder.

We thank all individuals and institutions that have provided information for this CD, especially the German Agency for Technical Cooperation GTZ, Ecosanres, Ecosan Norway, the International Water and Sanitation Centre IRC, the Stockholm Environment Institute SEI, the World Health Organisation WHO, the Hesperian Foundation, the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency SIDA, the Department of Water and Sanitation in Developing Countries SANDEC of the Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology EAWAG, Sanitation by Communities SANIMAS, the Stockholm International Water Institute SIWI, the Water Supply & Sanitation Collaborative Council WSSCC, the World Water Assessment Programme of the UNESCO, the Tear Fund, WaterAid, and all others that have contributed in some way to this curriculum.

We apologize in advance if references are missing or incorrect, and welcome feedback if errors are detected.

We encourage all feedback on the composition and content of this curriculum. Please direct it either to johannes.heeb@seecon.eu or petter.jenssen@umb.no, or use the feedback form.

K. Conradinseecon

Credits

K. Conradinseecon

ecosan Curriculum - Credits

Concept and ecosan expertise: Johannes Heeb, Petter D. Jenssen, Ken Gnanakan

Compiling of Information: Katharina Conradin

Layout: Katharina Conradin

Photo Credits: Mostly Johannes Heeb & Katharina Conradin; as per credit.

Text Credits: As per source indication.

Financial support: Swiss Development Cooperation (SDC)

How to Obtain the Curriculum Material

Free download of PDF tutorials: www.seecon.ch or(without further readings) www.gtz.de/ecosan

Order full curriculum CD: Handling charge € 20 for individuals, 200 € for courses. Orders from developing countries: according to financial means.

johannes.heeb@seecon.eu

petter.jenssen@umb.no

Release: 2.0, February 2007, 3000 copies

Feedback: Feedback regarding improvements, errors, experience of use etc. is

welcome. Please notify one of the above email addresses or use the feedback form.

Sources Copyright: Copyright of the individual sources lies with the authors or producing

organizations. Copying is allowed as long as references are properly acknowledged.

Contents

• Introduction

• Gender Approach to Water Resources Management and Sanitation

• Gender Perspectives on Sanitation

• Gender Perspectives on Ecological Sanitation

• Urban Agriculture and Women

• Gender Issues in Latrine Design

• Management Roles

• Sanitation and Education

• Involvement in Decision Making Processes

• Gender Mainstreaming in Community Water & Sanitation Projects

• Making Gender Roles Visible

• Case Study: Concrete Benefits for Women in India

• Conclusion

(1)

Introduction

2000: 2,4 billion people had no access to any form of sanitary means of excreta disposal.

→ 4 billion cases of diarrhoea each year between 1990 and 2000,

→ 2.2 million deaths (mostly infants & children)

prevention is an important gender concern.

women shoulder a huge burden in coping with the lack of basic sanitation services.

→ lack of facilities → hygienic behaviour impossible (lacking

facilities): dirty hands→ poor health (themselves & families)

Societal barriers often restrict women’s involvement in the improvement programmes intended to alleviate their situation.

Source: (16)

K. Conradin

Gender Approach to Water Resources Management and Sanitation

Women: wealth of knowledge on water:

→ primary responsibility for water supply, sanitation and health at the household level

→ role in growing subsistence crops.

Access to water:

→ greater self esteem

→ reduced exposure to sexual violence and health hazards

→ increased time available for education, childcare, growing food and income generation.

Central role often overlooked at the decision-making stages of water resource management.

Access to water and sanitation provides great benefits to a society and the economy as a whole, and a gender approach is central to sustainable management of water resources and sanitation.

K. Conradin

++ Glossary: Gender

Gender:

• refers to the roles and responsibilities of men and women and the relationship between them, their qualities, behaviours and identities.

• culturally specific

• can change over time.

• socially determined roles, influenced by historical, religious, economic, cultural and ethnic factors.

• gender relation: relation between women and men

++ Glossary: Gender Approach

Gender approach:

Attitudes, roles and responsibilities of men and women are taken into account-

A gender approach highlights:

Difference between women’s and men’s interests, how they interact and how differences are expressed

Conventions and hierarchies which determine women’s and men’s position in the family, community, and society at large, whereby women are usually dominated by men.

Differences among women and men based on age, wealth, ethnic background and other factors.

Gender Approach to Water Resources Management and Sanitation

Key issues to be considered in a gender approach: Water resources management and sanitation:

1. Equitable access to Water Supply:

• essential for achieving gender equality,

• more time for women to the pursuit of education, income generation

2. Equitable access to land rights and water for productive use:

• can empower women and address the root causes of poverty and gender inequality

3. Access to sanitation:

• can reduce health-related risks for all,

• improve attendance of girls and women in schools

4. Capacity development:

• Involvement of women critical to the sustainability of water and sanitation initiatives,

Source: (1)

K. Conradin

Gender Approach to Water Resources Management and Sanitation

5. Participation and equity in decision-making:

• For transparent and democratic management, both men and women must have an equal say.

6. Resource mobilization:

• Instructing women in project management and fund raising may empower them to launch new projects

• Independent contribution to poverty alleviation

7. Privatization, pricing and the right to water:

• Controversial issues

• As water collectors, it is women and girls who often pay more dearly in these case

Source: (1)

G. Malempré, UNESCO

Gender Perspectives on Sanitation

Gender perspectives on conventional sanitation systems have not been well established.

Men: - mostly responsible for construction

Women: - maintenance & cleaning

- assisting children and elderly

- main responsibility health/hygiene education of children.

Women's perceptions, needs and priorities in relation to sanitation can be quite different from men's.

Sanitation programmes built around some sort of "gender-neutral" person who does not exist in reality.

Men’s wishes never been specifically assessed and may be as neglected as women’s.

Source: (2)

K. Conradin

Gender Perspectives on Ecological Sanitation

Ecological Sanitation:

Women:

• food crop production

• direct influence if increased access to soil nutrients provided through ecological sanitation

• potential for increasing food production

• potential economic benefits

Women's support can be critical for the functioning of ecosan toilets

- e.g. maintenance: use of ashes (from cooking)

- proper cleaning and maintenance

Source: (2)

J. Heeb

Gender Perspectives on Ecological Sanitation

Men: Construction: the digging of the pits and construction

of the latrine structure Assumption: men would appreciate not having to

construct a new latrine and pit each time the old pit is filled.

Both women and men need access to cash incomes: potential economic benefits of ecological sanitation

probably welcomed (small market gardens etc.)

J. Heeb

Urban Agriculture and Women

Women: potential use of urine and grey water in fertilizing

and watering the garden

Women are in control

more independence from men

contribution to income generation/money saving

Urban agriculture:

work close to their homes

taking care of children, elderly and sick still possible

IMPORTANT:

• Both men and women should be involved in the planning and decision-making process on urban agriculture initiatives

• equitable access to training and extension services for both

Source: Adapted from (7)

Source: (6)

Gender Issues in Latrine Design

Failure to account for the needs of all household members can lead to downfall of project:

E.g. Even mothers who are aware that their children’s faeces are dangerous often do not let them use latrines because there is a risk of falling in.

Equally problematic:

• poor building materials

• bad designs

• difficult maintenance

Women and children, who generally clean latrines, are at greatest risk of contamination.

Source: (16)

Source (15)

Case Study: Concrete Benefits in Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe:

Women in rural areas prefer arbor loos to conventional pit latrines (can be built closer to the house)

→ planting of fruit trees

→ use of grey water for watering

Men appreciation of the arbor loos because the pits are smaller than conventional pit latrines and building them requires less labour.

The Arborloo is a portable toilet structure placed over a shallow pit. It moves on a “never ending journey” through the lands, a tree being planted in soil placed over the pit contents. This example comes from Malawi, where arborloo’s are very popular.

Jim McGill

Management Roles

Status quo in relation to roles, resources and power has been accepted as given.

Roles have to be considered: Women are not only domestic consumers Women involved in management/maintenance:

It is necessary to involve women in training programmes & credit schemes

possible socio-economic costs for new sanitation schemes have to be considered (other responsibilities besides toilet management)

Source: (2)

Source (15)

Sanitation and Education

Poor sanitation in schools: transmission of diseases impairs children’s growth and development limits school attendance negatively affects student’s ability to concentrate

and learn.

The rights of the girl-child (Beijing Conference in 1995) access to appropriate and adequate sanitation also in schools

Parents are reluctant to send their girls to school if sanitation is inadequate:

Girls schooling was irregular because they could not go to school during menstruation, due to inadequate facilities

Girls often drop out of school altogether when they reach puberty

M. Kropac

Sanitation and Education

Schools: excellent opportunity to create lifelong changes in

behaviour. childhood: best time to learn hygiene behaviours. children: taking care of younger brothers and sisters

(role models)

Preferences of both boys and girls should be taken into account.

Building new sanitation and water facilities is not enough:

proper use and maintenance crucial (cleanliness!) hygiene education good organisation

Source: (16)

M. Kropac

Involvement in Decision Making Processes

Involvement of women in all decision-making processes:

If a systems fails, women usually most severely affected.

Form of participation differs depending on circumstances and the standing of women in society.

it is of little use to the women if they are ’forced’ into a decision-making body without being truly accepted by other members

inclusion of women in capacity building is crucial

Source (15)

Gender Mainstreaming in Community Water & Sanitation Projects

The GWA (Gender Water Alliance) suggests the following actions to implement gender mainstreaming in pursuing community water (and sanitation) projects:

Collection of separate data by men and women In planning, designing and evaluating water projects, Who benefits from current and proposed

management arrangements? Who gets water for their agricultural pursuits? Who contributes labour to the project?

Schedule meetings at times convenient for women as well as men:

Everyone should be able to participate Everyone should be informed

Ensure that participation of both women and men in key decisions about the water system.

Water Committee members composed of women and men (also in key positions!)

Source: (14)Source (15)

Gender Mainstreaming in Community Water & Sanitation Projects

Technical training for both men and women Enhance women’s skills

Acknowledge women as producers and users of irrigation water

Carry out workshops on gender aimed at men encourage greater openness towards the

participation of women

Plan training sessions that allow everyone, male and female, to participate.

Address the inhibitions experienced by women

Source: (14)

Source (15)

Gender Mainstreaming in Community Water & Sanitation Projects

Mobilise female project staff, both within the technical services and as local intermediaries

far easier for female project staff to gain the confidence of women

less threatening for male members of the community when female professionals start working with their female family members

Source: (14)

Source (15)

Making Gender Roles Visible

Considering gender is not just involving women in a sanitation project:

1st goal: make gender roles and interdependencies visible, especially roles of men and women with regard to:

• decision making

• choice of technology

• hygiene

• food security

• financial security

• crop production

• health issues

Define the various roles of the different stakeholders, different expectations and fears

J. Heeb

Case Study: Concrete Benefits for Women in India

Women: able to use toilet whenever

they want (health benefits) no harassment increased safety more time, less time spent for

carrying water (greywater use for irrigation)

reuse of the urine for productive enterprises

K. Gnanakan

Ecological sanitation system with reuse of excreta and greywater in South India:

Conclusion

Ecological sanitation improvements should be developed within a framework that links poverty reduction, human rights and democratic development, gender equality and maintenance of the natural resource base.

• The framework must be people-centred

• Recognizing the poor – women and men – as actors rather than victims.

• Contributions, needs, priorities of all stakeholders should be taken into account.

Ecological sanitation approaches can only be empowering if both women and men have the possibility to influence the direction of, participate actively in the implementation of, and benefit from, these approaches

J. Heeb

Conclusion

More efforts need to be made to better understand the gender implications of ecological sanitation.

mobilize women and men as agents of change

equitable access to economic benefits and opportunities

recognition of women as well as men as major stakeholders, actors and change-agents in both households and communities.

integrate gender perspectives important for securing human rights and social justice.

Source: (2)

J. Heeb

(1) K. Gnanakan F. Charton UNICEF

END OF MODULE M4-3END OF MODULE M4-3

Katharina Conradin, seecon international

Dr. Johannes Heeb, International Ecological Engineering Society & seecon international

Prof. Dr. Petter Jenssen, Department of Mathematical Sciences and Technology, Norwegian University of Life Sciences

Dr. Ken Gnanakan, ACTS Bangalore, India

© 2007

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++ References

(1) UN Water (2005): Gender, Water and Sanitation – A policy Brief. UN Water for Life Decade 2005-2015. Interagency Task Force on Gender and Water Sub-programme of UN-Water and Interagency Network on Women and Gender Equality (IANWGE)

(2) Hannan, C. & Andersson, I. (no year): Gender Perspectives on Ecological Sanitation. Available at: www.undp.org/water/docs/gen_eco_san_chi.doc (Accessed 1.12.2005).

(3) United Nations (1995): The Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, New York. In: Hannan, C. & Andersson, I. (no year): Gender Perspectives on Ecological Sanitation. Available at: www.undp.org/water/docs/gen_eco_san_chi.doc (Accessed 1.12.2005).

(4) Based on the experience from field work in Kilimanjaro, Singida and Shinyanga regions carried out by Ingvar Andersson and Carolyn Hannan. In: Hannan, C. & Andersson, I. (no year): Gender Perspectives on Ecological Sanitation. Available at: www.undp.org/water/docs/gen_eco_san_chi.doc (Accessed 1.12.2005).

(5) Based on communication with Paul Calvert, South India. In: Hannan, C. & Andersson, I. (no year): Gender Perspectives on Ecological Sanitation. Available at: www.undp.org/water/docs/gen_eco_san_chi.doc (Accessed 1.12.2005).

(6) Werner, Ch., Mang, H.P., Klingel, F., Bracken, P. (2005): General Overview about ecosan. Powerpoint Presentation. GTZ, ecological sanitation programme, Division 44 – environment and infrastructure

(7) WHO (2006). Guidelines for the safe use of wastewater, excreta and greywater. Volume 4: Excreta and greywater use in agriculture. Draft version.

(8) Based on communication with Paul Calvert, South India. In: Hannan, C. & Andersson, I. (no year): Gender Perspectives on Ecological Sanitation. Available at: www.undp.org/water/docs/gen_eco_san_chi.doc (Accessed 1.12.2005).

(9) Winblad, U., Simpson-Hébert, M. Eds. (2004): Ecological Sanitation. Revised and enlarged edition. Stockholm Environment Institute SEI.

(10) Based on communication with Peter Morgan and Jim Latham, Zimbabwe. In: Hannan, C. & Andersson, I. (no year): Gender Perspectives on Ecological Sanitation. Available at: www.undp.org/water/docs/gen_eco_san_chi.doc (Accessed 1.12.2005).

(11) Werner, CH, et al. (2006): An ecosan source book for the preparation and implementation of ecological sanitation projects. Unesco/IHP and Deutsche Gesellschaft für Technische Zusammenarbeit (GTZ) GmbH

(12) Agarwal, A. and Narain. S. (undated, ca 1999) Community and household water management: The key to environmental regeneration and poverty alleviation, New York: UNDP (United Nations Development Programme). In: Hannan, C. & Andersson, I. (no year): Gender Perspectives on Ecological Sanitation. Available at: www.undp.org/water/docs/gen_eco_san_chi.doc (Accessed 1.12.2005).

(13) United Nations Development Programme UNDP: Mainstreaming Gender in Water Management. A Practical Journey to Sustainability: A Resource Guide. Available at: http://www.undp.org/water/docs/resource_guide.pdf Accessed 2.12.2005

(14) Gender and Water Alliance GWA (2002): The Gender Approach to Water Management. Lessons Learnt Around the Globe. Findings of an electronic conference series convened by the Gender and Water Alliance. January – September 2002. Available at: http://www.genderandwateralliance.org/english/advocacy.asp (Accessed 2.12.2005)

++ References

(15) Werner, Ch., Mang H.-P., Klingel, F. Bracken, P. (2004): General overview of ecosan. Unpublished PowerPoint-Presentation. German society for technical cooperation. (GTZ) GmbH ecological sanitation programme, division 44.

(16) Gender and Water Alliance GWA (2003): The Gender and Water Development Report 2003. Gender Perspectives on Policies in the Water Sector. Gender and Water Alliance, Delft, Netherlands.

++ Glossary and Abbreviations

ACTS Agriculture, Crafts, Trades, Studies

Ecosanres EcoSanRes (ecological sanitation research) is an international environment and development programme on ecological sanitation, based in Sweden.

GTZ German Agency for Technical Cooperation

GWA Gender and Water Alliance

IRC International Water and Sanitation Centre (Netherlands)

UNICEF United Nation’s Children’s Fund

WHO World Health Organisation

WSS Water and Sanitation

See glossary for unknown terms & definitions! ECOSAN GLOSSARY

ABBREVIATIONS