Integrating gender perspectives : realising new options for improved water management : cross-cutting thematic background paper

The document starts with a general description of the implications of gender relations in the water sector in relation to access and affordability for the poor, the balance between water uses for food and for nature, water pollution prevention, the issue of transboundary waters and the problems with floods and droughts. It specifies the role that women play in each sector and emphasises the role of a holistic and gender sensitive approach as a starting point for sustainable development.

While recognising that women’s knowledge and skills must be integrated to ensure success in water related interventions, it proposes the development of new perspectives for creating the political will to integrate women at all levels of decision-making. This can be done by ellaborating a gender strategy in order to mainstream gender in the water sector as to ensure optimal utilization of the facilities available and sustainability of services. The authors suggest a number of actions at national, district and community levels to encourage gender mainstreaming.

When analysing the mobilisation of financial resources the document explains some alternatives such as public-private partnerships, non-governmental water utilities, cross subsidisation and technologies that can save amounts and lower costs. For integral management governance and partnerships are required, that will in turn require structural and attitudinal changes in institutions as well as the operationalisation of gender concepts in water management. Attention is also given to the promotion of and improvement of local and indigeneous methods and the development of innovative, gender-sensitive technologies for successful capacity building and technology transfer. The document provides brief overviews of successful examples from all over the world in the water supply, sanitation and capacity building fields.