Bangladesh Water and Women Network : Challenges and

Progress.

Dr. Bilqis Amin Hoque

 

. Background GDI ranks Bangladesh at 140th position/174 countries.

Division of labour, distribution of power, and responsibilities and rights about access to resources and opportunities –main constraints

National Policies encourage women participation.

Gaps between documents and real situations

Bangladesh Water Vision 2025

Core Challenges:   to ensure equal access of both men and women to water resources.

to ensure through effective institutional step the participation of women in the planning and decision-making process.

Bangladesh Drinking Water and Sanitation Vision 2025

   Provide women with appropriate training and knowledge (Drinking water and Sanitation Vision 2025).

About BWWN

         BWWN formed in October,2001          Membership drive initiated, October,2001          Proposals to UNIFEM and others, October 2001,

March 2002.          First Regional WWN Co-ordinator meeting. Nepal,

October, 2001

Organized two local workshops

“Scopes for BWWN”. December,2001,Pabna.

“Women and Water Issues “.April,2002, Jessore

& National Consultation on Bangladeshobjective and action plan/launching; August 6, 2002  

Family /HH

Child Care

WOMEN

Embankment/FCD Projects

Drinking & Domestic Water

Kitchen/Household gardening

Irrigation

Plantation

Livestock

Post Harvesting

Factory & Industries

Fisheries

Disaster

REPORTED WOMEN INVOLVEMENT

Drinking Water           Union committees include women ward members.          Members mainly allowed in promotional activities. Contribution raised for new options without women

involvement

Communication efforts do not reach women Women pump caretakers rarely trained. Effective participation model/program yet to be seen.

 

Irrigation, Fisheries and other sectors          About 30% women members in project committees.

         Members showed remarkable results in assigned roles.

         Women committee members not well informed about opportunities

          Women committee members less regular than men at grass level

         Family commitments and social factors not recognised

         Discouraging incentives

         Lack of respect and security

         Women issues still neglected in disaster mitigation

HOW BWWN CAN REACH WOMEN

Capacity building education and training.

Appropriate communication materials.

Newsletter

Women and Water Network Committee at District and Upzilla

HOW BWWN CAN REACH WOMEN

Capacity building education and training

Appropriate communication materials

Newsletter

Women and Water Network Committee at District and Upzilla

Participation in decision making and implementation (BWP and other)

Appropriate partnership with GO, NGO and other stakeholders

Implementation of existing policies and its further development

Involvement of both professional and grass-root women

Involvement of qualified women

Recognition of women roles at home and market

Appropriate models

Vision of BWWN

Women’s recognition in water resource management activities through an organized voice

Recognition of women involvement.

Objectives

Broad objective: To promote activities that will reduce the gap between national gender policy and reality

Specific objectives: build capacity of women about effective use of water and

opportunity in the sector create awareness of women’s role. contribute towards development of appropriate policy,

political, social, and the sector / related sector.

Contd.

economical environment

facilitate women’s participation in decision making and implementing process.

Facilitate women’s access to water and opportunities in the sector / related sector.

Planned BWWN Activity and Expected Output

Activity Output

1. Identifying and listing women professional and activists , and women and water organisations

1. Directory

2. Development of country perspective report

2. Country Status Report

3. Strengthening women's roles in BWP organisation and platforms

3. Active participation in : * Visioning and FFA process at AWP levels * Policies and programs development at CWP level * In GWP programs

Activity Output

4. Target based orientation, training, skills and capacity building for IWRM and water

rights.

4. Promoting and strengthening the empowerment of women in relation to IWRM

5. Institutionalisation of Gender Analysis at all levels.

5. Gender sensitive programs at CWP and AWP levels (general advise)

6. Promoting gender sensitive planning and specifying budgetary allocation at different

levels.

6. Incorporation of gender analysis, planning and budgeting of all APs in SASTAC and AWP programs (discussion and advise)

Activity Output

7. Ensuring implementation of gender sensitive planning and budgetary allocations (gender audit framework and indicators)

7.Gender audit of all SASTAC and AWP programs (following a standard guideline develop the guideline based on regional and local consultation).

8. BWN established as pressure groups and lobbying: - Advocacy on sharing water

and accordingly priority to women's issues

- - Contribution to national

dialogue, debates and policies on water

8. - Raised awareness in AWP areas - Increased emphasis on

women related priorities in SASTAC and CWP.

- Increased budgetary allocation for women related priorities within programs of CWPs and SASTAC

-

Activity Output Contribution to national dialogue, debates and policies on water

Incorporation of WWN view points in National and regional dialogues

9. Federating voices of women 9. Focused and strong presence of women in national and Institutional Forums.

10. Information sharing 10 * BWN Website * Resource Centre * Newsletter * Seminars, workshops, ect.

11. Regional Exchange and study visits to APs of SASTAC

11. Increased learning, sharing and incorporation of good practices

In addition BWWN will facilitate:

- exploring & effective use of SASTEC approved 10% GWP fund

- exploring 50% women participation in SAWAF 2, Pakistan