Gender mainstreaming in Water Management

Gender mainstreaming within water policy refers to when a government illustrates its intentions to address inequalities and adopt a gendered approach. The issues surrounding gender and water supply is complex and contested, revolving around education, awareness of quality water resources, economic and social structures, as well as constraints etc, within households and communities. It is clear that gender isn't just about men and women, it is also about how behaviours and identities evolve and the unequal power relations that occur. Without highlighting how gender matters in regards to these social interactions and inequalities, misconceptions will arise and voices will consequently be ignored.

It is evident there are no clear-cut solutions that address women's participation within water management. Do we need more women to reach for leadership roles and a more top-down approach to stabilise the unequal male power relations and break down gender stereotypes? Or is it important that we change mentalities and attitudes towards water usage and the ways in which water access is practiced to contribute towards more effective and equitable water management? 

Through Cleaver's research in Tanzania, it is clear that we shouldn't forget that there are many different aspects of disadvantage that can limit the ability for certain people to assert their interests in water management, such as those who are chronically poor, or those with a physical disability, spatial remoteness etc. Dikito-Wachtmeister (2000, 221) also indicates that there are levels of hierarchy even amongst women that can hinder women's chances of exercising their voice, when it comes to women's participation in water management. 

Therefore I overall agree with Cleaver (2001:38), who argues that in order to address gender, as well as other marginalised groups within water governance, we must focus on reshaping the resources in society in the interests of equity. In addition, I believe that even if there are strong efforts to incorporate gender into water management, implementation of these gendered-approached management is equally important and needs to be reinforced and effective enough to ensure sustainable governance within these African spaces (Sadhu & Chakravarty, 2012:2). 

Examples of women's participation in water management:

1) Mabule Village Sanitation Project- The department of Water and Forestry (DWAF) and Mvula Trust of South Africa, with a combined effort of government and a NGO, were able to successfully address gender issues using a gender analysis tool, raising awareness through workshops, providing training in women's leadership programmes and installing Ventilated Improved Pit (VIP) latrines to the houses in the community, against the prevailing cholera epidemic.

2) Chifamba et al (2013) study on women's participation on community management in Buhera, Zimbabwe, demonstrates that over the years there has been active efforts to involve women in participatory water-management for example, in regards to framing rules for water distribution, liaising with government agencies, overseeing construction, repair and maintenance. As a result of their involvement, women have become more confident and have been able to take control over their lives and have gained more freedom and mobility, through interacting with different stakeholders.

However Chifamba et al conclude that one of their major findings is that there is insufficient information on successful projects and there either needs to be more documentation of processes involved in ensuring effective water governance involving women, or more work in general towards this approach in water management. 

Overall gender mainstreaming ought to be considered as a predominant strategy in improving water access, as even though I think it achieves little on its own, I do think alongside other development efforts, it can contribute to better water access.