Gender Checklist: Water Supply and Sanitation

Abstract

The checklist is meant to assist staff and consultants in implementing the Bank’s policy and strategic objectives on gender and development (GAD) (see the Bank’s Policy on Gender and Development, June 1998. It guides users through all stages of the project/program cycle in determining access to resources, roles and responsibilities, constraints, and priorities according to gender in the water supply and sanitation (WSS) sector and in designing appropriate gender-sensitive strategies, components, and indicators to respond to gender issues. ADB staff should use the checklist in identifying gender issues in the initial social assessment (ISA) during the fact-finding phase of project preparatory technical assistance (PPTA). Consultants should use it in carrying out more detailed social analysis during the PPTA. Bank staff, DMC officials, and consultants can also use it during project implementation and monitoring and evaluation (M & E). It should be emphasized, however, that not all questions are relevant to all projects, and staff and consultants must select the questions that are most relevant in the specific context. Guidelines on the preparation of gender-sensitive terms of reference for the PPTA feasibility study and for project implementation and M & E are also included, as are case studies from ADB’s project portfolio, to demonstrate good practices in mainstreaming gender in WSS projects. The checklist is designed primarily for rural and community-based urban WSS projects, although many issues and methodologies highlighted here apply generally to all WSS projects. For urban WSS projects, refer also to the Gender Checklist on Urban Development and Housing Projects (ADB, forthcoming). For project preparation, the checklist may be used together with the Bank’s Handbook for Incorporation of Social Dimensions in Projects (1994), Guidelines on Benefit Monitoring and Evaluation, and Briefing Papers on Women in Development series. Other useful references are listed at the back of this brochure. The checklist was drawn up by Sonomi Tanaka of the Social Development Division (SOCD), Office of Environment and Social Development, using a draft prepared by staff consultant Penelope Schoeffel and under the technical guidance of Shireen Lateef of SOCD. Mary Ann Asico edited the text and, with the help of Jun dela Cruz, prepared the final layout. Marivic Guillermo provided production assistance.