Report of Assessment of Gender mainstreaming Policy Implementation

Water Resource and Environment consultants (2006)

Abstract

Within the water and sanitation sector, gender influences the ways in which burdens, benefits and responsibilities in the sector are divided between women and men. In the Uganda water and sanitation sector, gender mainstreaming is defined as the appropriate active involvement of women and men in the decision making process. Gender issues in the water sector are circumstances that arise from the distinctions made on what women, men and certain groups can do, have, or decide in the process of management and development.

Study findings indicated that there is a demonstrated lack of access to the National Gender Policy document at the district level. Gender mainstreaming is still conceptualised as a vertical program. All the district annual and quarterly plans and reports were not gender mainstreamed, apart from a few isolated activities like water and sanitation committee formation and training. This strongly demonstrates the limited commitment and concern for mainstreaming gender in sector activities at the district level.

The district annual and quarterly plans and reports were not gender-sensitive largely because reporting guidelines did not provide for gender disaggregated data. This is partly attributed to the inadequate staff skills/knowledge in gender analysis and planning.

Gender mainstreaming efforts are best demonstrated at the Water and Sanitation Committee (WSC) level. Majority of Water and Sanitation Committees (73.3%) had women holding executive positions. About 63% of the committees had women treasurers and 10% had women chairpersons. The majority (66.6%) of WSCs however had not received training in gender resource and gender task analysis. This scenario affects the comprehension with which WSCs appreciate gender aspects in the management of water and sanitation facilities.

Although women are responsible for management of water and hygiene activities at the household, they lack control over land and other productive resources.

For more information visit:

NETWAS Uganda Documentation centre

P.O.Box 40223, Kampala

Plot 28 Chorley crescent street Luzira

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