2. Existing Network Activities
• GWP Network
already active on
gender
• 2009-13: 20 gender-
related activities
recorded
• 2014-16: 25 gender-
related activities
planned
2
3. Objective of GWP Gender Strategy
• Bring gender into the
mainstream of GWP's work
• Provide an overarching
framework for gender- and
women inclusive
approaches
• Clarify the role for GWP
in gender
• Define gender equity and
gender mainstreaming
for GWP Network
3
4. Gender Strategy Process
• Last years CP held workshop to support developing this
strategy (5/13 regions)
• Consultation across GWP Network on draft strategy
• SC Approved Text May 2014
4
5. Gender Strategy Approach
A distinction has been made between:
• Gender mainstreaming policies and practice
• Creating an enabling environment for women's
meaningful participation in water management
• Gender in the workplace (Inclusion and Diversity)
5
6. Gender Equality and Equity
Equality: fully equal rights and
access for both genders
Equity: acknowledges
differences exist but that
should not lead to an unfair
advantage
6
7. Gender equity in integrated water
resources management
Gender equity in the context of integrated and
sustainable management of water resources can be
promoted by mainstreaming a gender equality
perspective into legislation and policies and by carrying
this through step by step in the implementation of
associated programmes.
7
8. Gender Mainstreaming
• Include a gender
perspective into
operations, structures, and
programmes
• Aim to positively affect
gender equity in water use
and governance
• Gender neutrality =>
gender blind.
8
9. Gender and strategic goal 1:
Catalyse change in policies and practice
• Gender mainstreaming in integrated water resources
management policies, planning, and implementation
• GWP will support at least 30 countries in next 5
years to have gender mainstreaming policies in
water management
• Gender-sensitive legal frameworks
• Encourage analysis of water laws for gender
discrimination
• Gender and thematic programming
9
10. Gender and strategic goal 2:
Generate and communicate knowledge
10
• GWP will mainstream
gender in GWP
communications and
knowledge products
• GWP will support targeted
knowledge products on
gender issues within
GWP’s programmes
11. Gender and strategic goal 3:
Strengthen partnerships
11
• RWPs: At the centre of
GWP gender
mainstreaming
• CWPs: Inclusive
stakeholder participation
• Building/strengthening
partnerships with other
international organisations
12. Delivering the gender strategy
• Materials to support implementation
• Establishment of regular communication across Regional
Gender Focal Points
• Gender mainstreaming GWP standard documentation
and procedures
• Work planning and reporting
• Communications
• RBM
• Targeted fundraising on the gender strategy
12
14. Suggested Actions for Partnerships
1. Discuss the gender strategy in your country/region
2. Recruit a gender organization into parternship
3. Meet the Minister of Gender, include gender ministry
4. Mainstream gender into planned publications, events
5. Develop targeted knowledge product on gender & water
14
15. Questions for Discussion
1. Can you offer recommendation for aligning the gender
strategies goals and objectives with our operations?
2. What actions is your Water Partnership undertaking to
implement the gender strategy?
3. What considerations should be taken in implementing
this strategy?
15
Editor's Notes
Gender mainstreaming in integrated water resources
management policies, planning, and implementation
GWP catalyses change towards a water secure world by
sensitising national governments and institutions on key
issues to advance the sustainable governance of their
resources. This includes mobilising political will for
gender inclusion in participatory water governance, and
assisting governments and key institutions to adapt their
policies and legal instruments accordingly.
At Rio+20 (2012) GWP made a commitment to the Women
Ministers and Leaders for the Environment13 to:
support at least 30 countries in the next 5 years to
have domestic gender mainstreaming policies and
instruments in water resource management that are
regularly monitored, evaluated, and reported
encourage and support government departments,
water development agencies, non-governmental
organisations, and capacity-building organisations in
those countries to institutionalise and integrate
gender perspectives in their work on the ground
contribute to addressing the intergenerational
dimension for long term sustainability by developing
strategies and tools to engage young women, men,
and children at different levels – international,
regional, and country.
GWP will continue to work towards this commitment. We
will work with and support governments in boosting the
meaningful participation of women and young people in
the full range of water governance processes. In particular
we will continue to work with AMCOW and other relevant
partners to roll out the AMCOW Policy and Strategy for
Mainstreaming Gender in the Water Sector in Africa. In
other regions, GWP will incorporate gender mainstreaming
into its programmes and projects, supporting gender
equity efforts at all levels wherever possible. We will work
to involve basin organisations in developing, adopting,
and implementing these gender strategies.
Gender-sensitive legal frameworks
Closing gender gaps is intrinsically linked to having a
legal and policy framework in place that grants women
and men equal rights and opportunities. The importance
of water rights – and in conjunction with land tenure
security – in achieving universal access and eradicating
poverty is amply documented14.
GWP will encourage efforts to analyse and review water
laws for gender discrimination, as well as benchmark
assessments for the participation of men and women in
water management decision-making.
Gender and thematic programming
A key component of the GWP Strategy is to engage with
actors in the various economic sectors to promote
cooperation and to bring water into the mainstream of
core planning processes of priority national economic
development sectors. Gender must also be integrated
throughout these thematic programmes to effectively
address critical current and emerging challenges to water
security including climate resilience, food, transboundary
water security, energy, urbanisation, and ecosystems.
GWP will catalyse and support relevant ministries and
institutions in mainstreaming gender into current water
management thematic priority areas, which are also
priority areas for GWP. Moreover, GWP will ensure
operational guidelines are in place for mainstreaming
gender in GWP thematic programming. This includes
mainstreaming gender in the youth cross-cutting theme.
