1. Joke Muylwijk1 GENDER MAINSTREAMING in IWRM efficiency and sustainability IWRM: integrate the different water uses water for food – agriculture: staple crops, vegetables, cash crops – cattle and small animals water for people – drinking water – water for domestic use – sanitation and hygiene water for the environment – nature and wildlife – common use The different uses should not be considered and managed separately, but in relation to each other. Gender Session in 3 rd Arab Regional Water Conference, Cairo 9-11 Dec 2006

2. Joke Muylwijk2 GENDER MAINSTREAMING in IWRM efficiency and sustainability IWRM: involve human resources and all stakeholders different water users –women, children and men –old and young –rich and poor –of all ethnic groups and religions decision-makers –at different levels water practitioners –do-ers water professionals –designers and planners All stakeholders have different interest, needs, practice and knowledge which needs to be taken into account, answered to and tapped. Gender Session in 3 rd Arab Regional Water Conference, Cairo 9-11 Dec 2006

3. Joke Muylwijk3 GENDER MAINSTREAMING in IWRM efficiency and sustainability Gender and diversity Gender is about relations between and in between Men and women with different – age – socio-economic position – status – ethicity – religion Gender differs per: – culture – time and place Men and women have different tasks, rights, needs and knowledge about water for different uses Gender is Dynamic: changeable Gender relations are asymmetric power-relations Make use of broad gender concept: diversity Gender Session in 3 rd Arab Regional Water Conference, Cairo 9-11 Dec 2006

4. Joke Muylwijk4 GENDER MAINSTREAMING in IWRM efficiency and sustainability Gender ideology The set of gender ideas men and women believe in: internalised in upbringing norms which are thought to be natural and good and of all times everybody knows how to behave properly in his or her position not everyone behaves accordingly Gender Session in 3 rd Arab Regional Water Conference, Cairo 9-11 Dec 2006

5. Joke Muylwijk5 GENDER MAINSTREAMING in IWRM efficiency and sustainability Gender can change and does change, like culture if people themselves want it to change if there is an urgent need felt by all for example: – overpopulation or even population explosion – epidemic: HIV/Aids – other demographic changes: for example by war There is no gender neutral development Gender Session in 3 rd Arab Regional Water Conference, Cairo 9-11 Dec 2006

6. Joke Muylwijk6 GENDER MAINSTREAMING in IWRM efficiency and sustainability Empowerment: an objective and a concept for analysis With four interrelated elements: Social empowerment – self image, status, how does the society see you? Economic empowerment – same income for work, and right to decide about spending benefits and income Political empowerment – the right to organise oneselves and to take part in democratic process, WUA, influence development efforts Physical empowerment – the right to decide about the number of children, spacing in between, and the right to propser healthcare, clean water, dignity, the ability to resist violence, the right to safety and security Gender Session in 3 rd Arab Regional Water Conference, Cairo 9-11 Dec 2006

7. Joke Muylwijk7 GENDER MAINSTREAMING in IWRM efficiency and sustainability Empowerment: Groups and individuals (not only women) who are at the lower side of the hierarchy, empower themselves, if they are convinced, and if they are able They can be helped by convincing them and by giving them instruments for change: – education and forming of all categories, not just those who need to be empowered: high quality education which increases opportunities – improved laws and regulations – etc Outsiders cannot empower others, for example Arab women empower themselves following their own needs and values and strategy Empowerment means to be proud of own identity Gender Session in 3 rd Arab Regional Water Conference, Cairo 9-11 Dec 2006

8. Joke Muylwijk8 GENDER MAINSTREAMING in IWRM efficiency and sustainability Gender issues related to water and sanitation most tasks are women’s work women responsible for water in the house, for cleanliness and hygiene work with low status and low returns time-consuming and daily returning work less time for income earning taboo topics difficult to change the gender ideology women responsible to care for sick and elderly women ‘s reproductive tasks demand more hygiene Gender Session in 3 rd Arab Regional Water Conference, Cairo 9-11 Dec 2006

9. Joke Muylwijk9 GENDER MAINSTREAMING in IWRM efficiency and sustainability Gender issues related to water and agriculture women do a lot of work in agriculture landrights more often for men water rights linked to land rights gender division of work, but feminisation of agriculture lack of recognition of women’s work Gender Session in 3 rd Arab Regional Water Conference, Cairo 9-11 Dec 2006

10. Joke Muylwijk10 GENDER MAINSTREAMING in IWRM efficiency and sustainability Gender issues related to water and environment depletion, for example of groundwater: depletion results in more work for women: where to find water when the dug-well is dry? pollution, for example of sea water: less fish = less work for women and income for the family Pollution of fresh water worse for those who are responsible for domestic water supply, cattle, reproduction poor people depend more on common resources such as water in nature decrease of biodiversity worse for those who collect minor forest resources: herbs, mushrooms, seeds, etc Gender Session in 3 rd Arab Regional Water Conference, Cairo 9-11 Dec 2006

11. Joke Muylwijk11 GENDER MAINSTREAMING in IWRM efficiency and sustainability Efficiency: Make use of all useful resources: involve knowledge, skills and energy of women and men give training to those who actually do the work with gender division of work a man cannot speak for his wife empowered people are self-confident and can contribute more participation of all stakeholders Gender Session in 3 rd Arab Regional Water Conference, Cairo 9-11 Dec 2006

12. Joke Muylwijk12 GENDER MAINSTREAMING in IWRM efficiency and sustainability Sustainability Women feel often more responsible for the future Women are often the victims of poor quality and low quantity of water, but women are also the solution to the problems. 1.for technical improvements to be more durable lasting and strong: –Make sure those who work with it feel that they own it –Train those who use it also to maintain it 2.for attitudinal change to stay: –Make sure that training has been adequate and appropriate –People need to be convinced that it is in their own benefit 3.for water management to be economically sustainable: –Those who have to pay for water and for maintenance should be able to count on the services –Payments should come from men and women, not just from women. Gender Session in 3 rd Arab Regional Water Conference, Cairo 9-11 Dec 2006

13. Joke Muylwijk13 GENDER MAINSTREAMING in IWRM efficiency and sustainability Gender Session in 3 rd Arab Regional Water Conference, Cairo 9-11 Dec 2006 Some solutions Make analysis with four elements of empowerment Take gender ideology into account Women are not just victims, women are the first to help with solutions: make use of local knowledge of women and men and elderly Involve men as well: shared responsibilities Appreciate women’s work, also if it is not paid Gender budgeting: make sure gender activities in programmes are budgeted for Always include minorities: use broad definition of gender