Gender and Social Inclusion

Nepal
Loan 1755 - NEP: Small Towns Water Supply and Sanitation Sector Project, 2000

Read more about the project.

Small urban centers along the major national highways in Nepal have been growing rapidly in the past decade as a result of rural migration. The inadequate water supply and sanitation systems in these emerging small towns have adversely affected the quality of life and health conditions of the people living in them, with women spending more than two hours a day fetching water during the dry season. The small towns serve as the economic links between the rural areas and the country’s urban economy. They are the immediate markets, transportation depots, and processing centers of agricultural products in the districts. Their development will help absorb the rural migrants and reduce pressures on the urban environment, infrastructure, and employment in the urban centers of the Kathmandu valley. ADB’s Small Towns Water Supply and Sanitation Sector Project was designed to improve water supply and sanitation conditions in 40-50 small towns to contribute to poverty reduction in urban areas.

Objectives and Scope
The Small Towns Water Supply and Sanitation Sector Project was approved on 12 September 2000 for $35 million. The objectives of the Project are

  • improve the health and quality of life of the people living in project towns by constructing water supply, drainage and sanitation facilities, and providing health and hygiene education
  • support community participation by developing the institutional capacity of community based water users and sanitation committees, and requiring the beneficiaries to make contributions in cash or kind to cover partial project costs
  • promote community based water quality monitoring


The Project comprises 4 components

1. Public Awareness Campaign and Hygiene Education:
The public awareness campaign focuses on community awareness on the project including

  • the roles and responsibilities of the Water Users and Sanitation Committees (WUSCs,) local governments, Town Development Fund, and the Department of Water Supply and Sewerage (DWSS)
  • the need to share the capital cost of the of the water supply systems
  • the linkage between the desired level of services, cost contribution and operations and maintenance expenditure and water tariffs
  • the availability of Town Development Fund loans and the need to pay back the borrowed funds
  • women’s representation in the decision-making process
  • land acquisition and resettlement issues. The public awareness campaign will lead to developing a Community Action Plan by WUSC representatives. Health and hygiene education will include
    • school hygiene education
    • community education
    • focused training including latrine construction, solid waste management, animal waste management and training of community health workers


2. Water Supply and Sanitation Facilities:

  • piped water supply with private yard connections
  • community taps for poorer areas adjacent to the distribution systems
  • collective or household-based rainwater harvesting materials provided to poor communities where accessing the piped water supply systems is neither technically nor financially feasible


3. Technical Support to Water Users and Sanitation Committees:

  • technical training to WUSC representatives on system operations, preventative maintenance and water source protection
  • financial training covering tariff planning, billing, collection and basic accounting
  • fee-based training based on request such as on engineering and other technical support and water quality monitoring and testing


4. Project Implementation Assistance:
consulting services for project implementation, feasibility studies, engineering designs, construction supervision, training as well as administrative equipment and expenses

Framework for Gender and Development Activities
A survey conducted during project design indicated that on average 12% of the households are headed by females in project towns and higher among poorer households. Females are less educated than males and mothers are responsible for hygiene education of children. Women’s roles in water hauling is very high. Females represent 84% of the water carriers in households that do not have water on the premises. Their participation in water carrying peaks between ages 15-39 when they make up about half the water-carrying force overall. To keep the household supplied, each female water carrier must reserve 1 1/3 hours per day during the monsoon season and an average of 2-3 hours per day in the dry season. Women and girls are expected to benefit from this project both in terms of reducing the physical burden of hauling and the opportunity cost of time that could be utilized more productively in attending school and income generating activities. Public health and hygiene education program will also help improve the health and quality of life for all household members. Women’s participation in WUSCs will also include them in the decision-making structure regarding the planning and management of domestic water supply and sanitation systems.

Gender-Inclusive Design
The Project design included gender provisions to sensitize the DWSS staff on women’s active participation in WUSCs; to involve women in socio-economic surveys, public awareness campaigns and health and hygiene education programs; ensure one woman out of two representatives of WUSC in the Town Project Office on a full-time basis and one female social mobilizer in town project offices (TPOs). The project consultants also included a gender and community development specialist and a health and hygiene education specialist to implement the Project’s gender and development objectives.

Based on ADB’s mid-term loan review mission, an agreement was reached with the project implementing agency to systematically implement the Project’s Gender Action Plan (GAP) with specific features, benchmarks and resources to promote women’s participation and benefits. The GAP included the following features and targets:

  • Initiate policy dialogue to increase women’s representation to 33% in the sector
  • Assign female staff to the Project Management Office and at least one worker in the TPO.
  • Increase women’s representation and participation in TPO meetings
  • Require NGOs to recruit at least 50% female field staff
  • Undertake gender sensitivity training for NGOs, DWSS, Project Management Office, and TPO staff conducted by ADB Nepal Gender Specialist
  • Sensitize WUSC and consumers to work towards achieving more gender balanced representation in project activities
  • Administer household surveys jointly to heads of households and their spouses as women provide more accurate estimates on water related tasks
  • Provide gender-disaggregated data and information in project progress reports to monitor the level of participation and differential access to project benefits
  • Integrate gender trainings in the project training plan
  • Provide gender-sensitive monitoring indicators
     

Achievements
The Project has complied with agreed gender actions in the GAP as evidenced by significant progress in mainstreaming gender concerns by 2005:

  • 23 towns met the Government requirement of 33% women’s representation in the reconstituted WUSCs
  • training programs for project staff, NGO and WUSC included sessions on gender sensitivity
  • 57% women and 43% men participated in health and hygiene education, and technical trainings
  • gender-disaggregated baseline data is available for monitoring project performance and outcomes
  • the water user association is represented by a male and female members in the Town Project Office
  • project supported school latrines have separate toilets for girls and boys
  • women’s participation in public meetings and decision-making have increased considerably
  • women increased their technical knowledge vis-a-vis system cost, upfront cash contribution, tariff, and water quality issues with linkages to family health and hygiene
  • women water user association members’ request for income generating activities will be supported with small grant funding from the Water Cooperation Fund
  • strong linkages are made between health and hygiene, social mobilization, public awareness campaigns and gender mainstreaming to secure increased participation of poor men and women

Guidance on Gender and Development Activities
The ADB Nepal Gender Specialist has provided continued assistance to address gender concerns throughout the design and implementation phases of the Project. Particularly, her assistance in training project stakeholders on gender issues in the water supply and sanitation sector and reaching agreement on Project GAD objectives, and providing consistent support and monitoring for effective implementation of the GAP have been critical in achieving the Project’s GAD objectives.

Gender Mainstreaming in Town Projects

Gender mainstreaming and social inclusion trainings were provided in 6 small towns for the WUSC members and staff of DWSO, TPO, EDC, NGO, etc. by PMO. The training was inspiring to participant for internationalization of gender mainstreaming and social inclusion issues. The participants were motivated and planned to implement the skills and knowledge they learned. Mainstreaming of gender and social inclusion issues need to be strengthened in all projects. Considering the need a detailed plan for Gender Sensitization training to all WUSCs is planned by PMO/PIC.
Details are as follows:

S. No.

Town Projects

Date

Participants

Male

Female

Total

1

Fikkal

3 – 4 July 2006

8

10

18

2

Surunga

30 Jun – 1 July 2006

13

11

24

3

Khairenitar

23 February 2007

20

5

25

4

Bandipur

27 February 2007

15

6

21

5

Prithvinarayan

4 March 2007

13

11

24

6

Parsa

9 March 2007

15

10

25

 

 

Total

84

53

137

WUSCs in the Context of Women Representation (updated: November 2006)

A Status in First, Second And Third Batch Town Projects

S.n.
Name of Project
No. of WUSC members
Remarks
F
M
Total
A First Batch  
1 Attariya 3 6 9  
2 Bandipur 3 6 9  
3 Birendranagar 3 6 9  
4 Fikkal 4 7 11  
5 Lekhnath 3 6 9  
6 Parsa 3 6 9  
7 Ratnanagar 2 7 9 *
8 Trijuga 3 6 9  
B Second Batch        
1 Bardibas 3 6 9  
2 Beni 3 6 9  
3 Bijuwar 3 6 9  
4 Kamalamai 3 6 9  
5 Kawasoti 4 5 9  
6 Khairenitar 3 6 9  
7 Kohalpur 3 6 9  
8 Kusma 2 7 9 *
9 Mahendranagar 3 6 9  
10 Prithivinarayan 3 6 9  
11 Sunawal 4 5 9  
12 Surunga 3 6 9  
13 Tribhuvan Nagar 3 6 9  
14 Tulsipur 2 7 9  
15 Walling 3 6 9  
C Third Batch        
1 Bardaghat 3 6 9  
2 Belbari 3 6 9  
3 Birtamod 3 6 9  
4 Budhabare 3 6 9  
5 Itahari 3 6 9  
6 Lamahi 2 7 9  
7 Lamki 3 6 9  
8 Nijgadh 3 6 9  

* Process still continued to reform WUSCs

Activity-wise Gender Progress (Third Batch)

Updated: Nov 2006

Sn. Project Name WUA/WUSC Orientation CAP Signing Presentation of Draft FSR Presentation of Draft DEDR Grand Total %
M F Total Duration M F Total Date M F Total Date M F Total Date M F Total M F
1 Itahari 9 4 13 20.3.2005 47 10 57 29.4.2005 80 23 103 23.09.2005   89 21 110 22.10.2005 225 58 283 78.61 21.39
2 Belbari 8 4 12 48 15 63 30.4.2005 65 26 91 22.09.2005   82 47 129 23.10.2005 203 92 295 72.89 27.11
3 Budhabare 9 3 12 22.3.2005 66 5 71 2.5.2005 84 15 99 19.09.2005   107 14 121 26.10.2005 266 37 303 87.36 12.64
4 Birtamod 9 2 11 43 9 52 3.5.2005 34 16 50 20.09.2005   46 13 59 25.10.2005 132 40 172 76.11 23.89
5 Lamahi 6 2 8 28.3.2005 41 5 46 12.5.2005 43 10 53 22.09.2005   60 36 96 23.10.2005 150 53 203 73.89 26.11
6 Lamki 7 3 10 141 31 172 14.5.2005 73 12 85 24.09.005   83 6 89 24.10.2005 304 52 356 85.39 14.61
7 Nijgadh 7 3 10 29.3.2005 68 24 92 11.5.2005 121 15 136 15.09.2005   72  67   139   26.10.2005 268 109 377 71.09 28.91
8 Nilkanth 7 2 9 117 19 136 9.5.2005 0 0 0           124 21 145 85.52 14.48
9 Bardaghat 7 2 9 127 76 203 13.5.2005 132 55 187 13.9.2005   145   58   203   22.10.2005 411 191 602 68.27 31.73
  Grand Total 69 24 94   698 194 892   632 172 804     684   262   946   2083 653 2736 697.01 202.99
  % 73.40 26.60     78.25 21.75     78.61 21.39       72.30   27.70     76.13 23.87   76.13 23.87

Team Composition of NGO by Gender (Second Batch)

Updated: 15 Nov 2004

Sn. Town Projects Districts Name of Local NGO Professional Experts Field Coordinator /Site Incharge Motivator/ Enumerator Support Staff Total
F M Total F M Total F M Total F M Total F M Total
1 Surunga Jhapa Navadurga Comm. Academy 3 2 5 1 - 1 5 - 5 - 2 2 9 4 13
2 Bardibas Mahottari Mahila Sahyogatmak Samaj Nepal - 5 5 - 1 1 11 - 11 1 - 1 12 6 18
3 Kamalamai Sindhuli i) Gaun Jagaran Sewa Sansthan 1 4 5 - 1 1 2 7 9 - 1 1 3 13 16
ii) Dalit Welfare Organization
4 Kawasoti Nawalparasi Sama Bikas Mahila Utthan Kendra 1 4 5 - 1 1 8 - 8 - - - 9 5 14
5 Sunuwal Nawalparasi Youth participation in Forest & Environment Federation 1 4 5 - 1 1 2 4 6 2 3 5 5 12 17
6 Prithivinarayan Gorkha Nepal Red Cross Society - 5 5 - 1 1 4 - 4 - 1 1 4 7 11
7 Khairenitar Tanahun Seti Sarokar Samuha 3 2 5 - 1 1 6 - 6 - 1 1 9 4 13
8 Walling Syangja Aandhikhola Disabled Service Association 2 3 5 - 1 1 5 - 5 1 3 4 8 7 15
9 Kusma Parbat Nepal Swalamban Kendra - 5 5 1 - 1 8 1 9 - - - 9 6 15
10 Beni Myagdi Jibikoparjan Tatha Prakritik Byawasthapan Milan Kendra - 5 5 1 - 1 3 - 3 - 2 2 4 7 11
11 Bijuwar Pyuthan Kalika Youth Club 1 4 5 - 1 1 7 12 19 - 1 1 8 18 26
12 Tribhuwan Nagar Dang Tarun Club 3 2 5 - 1 1 10 2 12 2 1 3 15 6 21
13 Tulsipur Dang SUPER 3 2 5 1 - 1 11 5 16 - 4 4 15 11 26
14 Kohalpur Banke INRUDEC 1 4 5 - 1 1 4 - 4 - 1 1 5 6 11
15 Mahendranagar Kanchanpur CEPS 1 4 5 - 1 1 2 2 4 - 1 1 3 8 11
Total

20 55 75 4 11 15 88 33 121 6 21 27 118 120 238
Percentage

26.67 73.33 100.00 26.67 73.33 100.00 72.73 27.27 100.00 22.22 77.78 100.00 49.58 50.42 100.00

N.B : Motivators/Enumerators are recruited according to the number of wards of service area.

 

Gender Progress in HHE Training including Health Awareness Activities (Implementation Phase) (updated: March 2007)

S. No. Town Project

Name of Training and No. of Participants

 Health Awareness
WUSC Comm. Motivator School Teachers Health Worker Waste Mgmt. Animal Waste Mgmt. Total
F M Total F M Total F M Total F M Total F M Total F M Total F M Total F M Total
A. Batch - I                                                
1 Bandipur 4 16 20 20 0 20 5 10 15 9 3 12 9 3 12 9 3 12 56 35 91 608 596 1204
2 Birendranagar* 23 81 104 22 0 22 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 26 50 76 71 131 202 0 0 0
3 Fikkal** 13 36 49 43 2 45 3 13 16 18 1 19 21 11 32 18 15 33 116 78 194 216 350 566
4 Lekhnath 8 11 19 12 9 21 8 10 18 19 0 19 13 6 19 7 10 17 67 46 113 1440 1687 3127
5 Parsa 9 11 20 11 9 20 13 6 19 12 8 20 13 7 20 14 7 21 72 48 120 894 702 1596
6 Ratnanagar 3 17 20 12 9 21 13 7 20 20 3 23 13 7 20 14 7 21 75 50 125 1519 1218 2737
7 Trijuga 15 6 21 19 0 19 12 8 20 20 0 20 19 1 20 17 3 20 102 18 120 1372 1059 2431
 

Sub-Total (I)

 75 178 253 139 29 168 54 54 108 98 15 113 88 35 123 105 95 200 559 406 965 6049 5612 11661
A. Batch - II                                                
8 Bardibas 7 15 22 18 2 20 5 7 12 14 5 19 11 16 27 9 14 23 64 59 123 4658 5310 9968
9 Beni 9 11 20 17 4 21 9 6 15 7 7 14 3 15 18 10 9 19 55 52 107 782 756 1538
10 Bijuwar 9 11 20 16 4 20 12 7 19 16 4 20 12 8 20 11 9 20 76 43 119 1425 1530 2955
11 Kamalamai 4 11 15 14 7 21 10 9 19 16 5 21 16 5 21 13 7 20 73 44 117 1532 1843 3375
12 Kawasoti 15 8 23 18 2 20 8 9 17 21 0 21 19 1 20 0 0 0 81 20 101 635 466 1101
13 Khairenitar 4 15 19 15 5 20 6 14 20 11 9 20 17 3 20 13 7 20 66 53 119 219 242 461
14 Kohalpur 8 8 16 10 9 19 5 5 10 18 0 18 12 4 16 9 9 18 62 35 97 5057 4424 9481
15 Kushma 5 17 22 17 2 19 11 7 18 17 4 21 10 10 20 12 9 21 72 49 121 1091 1176 2267
16 Mahendranagar 2 19 21 7 13 20 11 11 22 18 0 18 5 19 24 12 3 15 55 65 120 343 469 812
17 Prithvinarayan 3 13 16 12 6 18 7 14 21 16 3 19 13 4 17 18 2 20 69 42 111 1415 1120 2535
18 Surunga 10 10 20 8 12 20 11 9 20 7 14 21 10 10 20 9 11 20 55 66 121 1322 1928 3250
19 Tribhuvannagar 0 0 0 8 12 20 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 8 12 20 35 50 85
20 Tulsipur 8 12 20 0 0 0 0 0 0 20 0 20 0 0 0 0 0 0 28 12 40 48 21 69
21 Waling 5 15 20 19 7 26 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 24 22 46 0 0 0
 

Sub-Total (II)

 89 165 254 179 85 264 95 98 193 181 51 232 128 95 223 116 80 196 788 574 1362 18562 19335 37897
22 Belbari 5 15 20 17 6 23 13 7 20 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 35 28 63 268 402 670
23 Itahari 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 838 914 1752
  Sub-Total (III) 5 15 20 17 6 23 13 7 20 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 35 28 63 1106 1316 2422
  Total (I+II+III) 169 358 527 335 120 455 162 159 321 279 66 345 216 130 346 221 175 396 1382 1008 2390 25717 26263 51980
  % 32 68 100 74 26 100 50 50 100 81 19 100 62 38 100 56 44 100 58 42 100 49.5 50.5 100

Health awareness activities includes rallies, street drama, miking, quiz contest, essay competition, sub-committee/cluster meeting etc.
* Includes mason training and refresher training.
** Including refresher taining.