Report and Recommendation of the President to the Board of Directors

Transcription

1 Report and Recommendation of the President to the Board of Directors Strengthening Water Management and Irrigation Systems Rehabilitation Project Project Number: Supplementary Appendix J Gender Action Plan Asian Development Bank

2 TABLE OF CONTENTS Page TABLE OF CONTENTS LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS i ii 1 ADB S POLICY ON GENDER AND DEVELOPMENT 1 2 CONTEXT OF GENDER EQUALITY IN VIETNAM 2 3 SUMMARY OF GENDER ASSESSMENT 3 4 GENDER ACTION PLAN 5 Table 1 Gender Action Plan 7 RRP - Supplementary Appendix J i

3 Exchange Rates used in this Report () USD 1 = VND 19,000 LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS ADB = Asian Development Bank AFD = Agence Française de Développement AP = Affected Person APC = Agriculture Production Cooperative BHH = Bac Hung Hai (Irrigation and Drainage Scheme) CPO = Central Project Office (MARD) DMF = Design and Monitoring Framework DONRE = Department of Natural Resources and Environment EA = Executing Agency EIRR = Economic internal Rate of Return EMP = Environnemental Management Plan FIRR = Financial Internal Rate of return FMA = Financial Management Assessment FS = Feasibility Study GDP = Gross Domestic Product IDMC = Irrigation and Drainage Management Company IDP = International Development Partner IE = Irrigation Enterprise IEE = Initial Environmental Examination IMC = Irrigation Management Company IMT = Irrigation Management Transfer ISF = Irrigation Service Fee LIDF = Local Infrastructure Development Fund M&E = Monitoring and Evaluation MARD = Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development MASSCOTE = Mapping Systems and Services for Canal Operation Techniques MONRE = Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment MPI = Ministry of Planning and Investment O&M = Operation and Maintenance PIM = Participatory Irrigation Management PMU = Project Management Unit PPC = Provincial Peoples Committee PS = Pumping Station PSA = Poverty and Social Assessment RAMP = Risk Assessment and Management Plan RP = Resettlement Plan SBV = State Bank of Vietnam SCADA = supervisory control and data acquisition SIEE = Summary Initial Environmental Examination SPRSS = Summary Poverty Reduction and Social Strategy TA = Technical Assistance ToR = Terms of Reference WRU = Water Resources University WUA = Water User Association WUG = Water User Group RRP - Supplementary Appendix J ii

4 1 ADB S POLICY ON GENDER AND DEVELOPMENT ADB s Policy on Gender and Development (GAD) follows an approach where gender is a crosscutting issue influencing all social and economic processes. The GAD approach recognizes that improvements in women's status require analysis of the relations between men and women, as well as the concurrence and cooperation of men. Emphasis is placed on the need to understand the ways in which unequal relations between women and men may contribute to the extent and forms of exclusion that women face in the development process. There is also recognition that the participation and commitment of men is required to fundamentally alter the social and economic position of women. The GAD approach includes strategies to address the broader socio-cultural environment and promote changes in the perceptions of gender roles among women and men that allow women to enter new spheres of activities and benefit from and lead developmental processes. The key elements of the ADB s policy include: Gender sensitivity: to observe how ADB operations affect women and men, and to take into account women's needs and perspectives in planning its operations; Gender analysis: to assess systematically the impact of a project on men and women, and on the economic and social relationship between them; Gender planning: to formulate specific strategies that aim to bring about equal opportunities for men and women; Mainstreaming: to consider gender issues in all aspects of ADB operations, accompanied by efforts to encourage women's participation in the decision- making process in development activities; and Agenda setting: to assist DMC governments in formulating strategies to reduce gender disparities and in developing plans and targets for women's and girl's education, health, legal rights, employment, and income-earning opportunities. 1. The Policy on Gender and Development adopts mainstreaming as a key strategy in promoting gender equity. Gender considerations will be mainstreamed into all ADB activities, including macroeconomic and sector work, and lending and TA operations. The key elements of the Bank s policy will include gender sensitivity, gender analysis, gender planning, mainstreaming, and agenda setting. 2. The Policy is premised on recognition of the need to improve the status of women and to promote their potential roles in development. Women s key role the agriculture sector means that they must be central in planning and implementation of programs in order to achieve expected results. Hence, promoting and improving the status of women needs to be pursued, for reasons of equity and social justice and also because it makes economic sense and is good development practice. 3. The gender and development approach sees gender as a cross-cutting issue with relevance for and influencing all economic, social, and political processes. A gender-focused approach seeks to redress gender inequity through facilitating strategic, broad-based, multifaceted solutions to gender inequality. RRP - Supplementary Appendix J 1

5 2 CONTEXT OF GENDER EQUALITY IN VIETNAM According to studies in Vietnam, over the past 20 years, the country has made important strides in achieving greater equality between women and men. Currently, the country ranks 80th (out of 136 countries) on the United Nation s Gender Development Index (GDI). Women have adult literacy rates that are comparable to men. Vietnam also has one of the highest economic participation rates for women in the world: 85 percent of men and 83 percent of women between the ages of 15 and 60 participated in the labor force in According to a situation analysis by ADB in 2005, almost all of the new participants in the agriculture sector are women (ADB, 2005). The Government of Vietnam s Agriculture Sector Survey (VASS) shows that women comprise more than 50% of the country s labour force in the agriculture sector. Farmers account for 40 % of the male labour force while they comprise 49% of the female labour force. However, women farmers still do not benefit from the same training opportunities as men. For example, women are less likely to participate extension training. The VASS survey found that less than half of female farmers had attended extension training. This trend could change as more women enter sectors of education related to agriculture. Currently, 30% of extension workers are now women. Providing women with more access to training opportunities is a means to improve their potential for income generation and contribute to productivity in the sector. Raising awareness among government agriculture staff on the importance of women s role in the agriculture sector, and the importance of their participation in training and water user associations would contribute to opening up such opportunities. In the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, women are up to 46% of the staff but represent only 5.7% of those in management positions. At the provincial level women are even less represented than men with many provinces having no women in leadership positions within MARD. The lack of women in management creates a culture where the sector is seen as male dominated, and issues of women s role in agriculture and inclusion in training receives little attention. 2 The Government has put in place measures to promote gender equality. A National Strategy on the Advancement of Women to 2010 has been in place since 2002 which seeks to Improve the quality of women`s material and spiritual life, as well as establishing the conditions necessary for women to experience their fundamental rights, and to fully and equally participate in and benefit from all aspects of political, economic, cultural and social life. This strategy fixes objectives for promoting equality of women in access to all levels of education as well as professional training opportunities. The National Strategy has resulted in a number of sector strategies to promote gender, including the Gender Strategy in Agriculture and Rural Development to 2010 and Gender Mainstreaming Guidelines in National Policy Implementation and Formulation. 1 The World Bank Group. Vietnam Country Gender Assessment. (Hanoi: 2006). 2 Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development. Gender Strategy In Agriculture And Rural Development To The Year 2010, (Hanoi: 2002). RRP - Supplementary Appendix J 2

6 3 SUMMARY OF GENDER ASSESSMENT Water Resources Education: Women are under-represented in technical sectors of agriculture and rural development, including the water resources sector. However, women s representation as students in the water resources university show signs of positive trends. Women currently represent 38% of all staff positions and 39% of faculty positions. Women are presently 23% of the student population. This figure has increased from 20% since Promoting women s increased enrolment will be important to ensuring women s equal representation as professionals in the water resources sector. Having more trained women professionals in water resources is one step towards greater gender equality in the sector overall. Creating favourable conditions for women students and faculty in the new campus facilities, in particular for accommodation, is one important measure the SWR & IRS project can take to promote gender equality in both employment and enrolment at the Water Resources University. Women and Agriculture: Women are now the majority of agriculture workers. In the Bac Hung Hai provinces, women are now a higher percentage of agriculture workers than men. For example in Bac Ninh 40% of the employed population of agriculture households are men compared to 60% women. The socio-economic survey found that generally, women s occupational profile is similar to men with the majority working in agriculture followed by operating a business. One notable difference is that women heads of household are more likely than male heads to have a secondary occupation as hired labor with as many as 63% reporting a secondary occupation in this area. Women heading the household are less likely to have completed Lower secondary or upper secondary school. However, the education profile of women contributing income to the family is similar to that of males. Women headed households experience higher levels of poverty. Poverty rate among male heads of households in surveyed population is 7% whereas poverty rate of female heads of households is 17%. Women headed households represent about half of the poor whereas they are less than one third of the surveyed population. Women are important contributors to family income and yet their status has not necessarily translated into sharing of household tasks or a greater role for women in community decisionmaking. Men and women share many of the tasks related to farming as well as off-farm work. Women however have much more responsibility for household work such as cooking, and cleaning. The surveys show women are less likely than men to participate in community meetings. Through the consultations on Bac Hung Hai it is apparent that the managers of the systems and the representatives of water users are men with very few women in management positions or as leaders of water user associations. Of the consultations held with 23 representatives of water user groups, only one woman attended. In the focus group discussions, including the separate ones held with women, participants indicated that maintaining irrigation systems for the village is hard work and more suitable to men. However, in the socio-economic survey respondents indicated that both men and women contribute fees and labour to maintaining the irrigation systems. For attending water user association meetings or acting in leadership roles, SES respondents indicated that men usually fill these functions. RRP - Supplementary Appendix J 3

7 A perception that irrigation is men s work exists despite the fact that women are active in the agriculture sector and are making important contributions to village level irrigation management. In one focus group, participants pointed out that men had been traditionally been responsible for management of irrigation groups and so the roles were already filled by men. Both in the mixed and women only groups, participants indicated that women should contribute their ideas to the irrigation groups. Some participants indicated that women could eventually become leaders of these groups. Given women s important role in agriculture, the inclusion of women representatives as stakeholders for consultation and decision-making on the management, operation and maintenance of the Bac Hung Hai system is essential to ensuring the views of the majority of the stakeholders is included in the system development. Women s participation in resettlement is also critical to the effective implementation of the plans. The economic status, support system, and family income arrangements for each women head of household will need to be reviewed under the special assistance program to ensure that women head of households are not at risk of poverty and vulnerability from the project. RRP - Supplementary Appendix J 4

8 4 GENDER ACTION PLAN This project has the potential to create GAD specific outcomes as a result of more general social benefits that could be derived from improved facilities and curriculum for water resources education and a more effective irrigation system in Bac Hung Hai. The assessment has clearly identified that women in the project area are economically active and are a majority of agriculture workers. Women are close to one-third of the student population in the Water Resources University. Consequently, women have an important stake in improving water resources management and their participation in project activities is essential to realizing expected outcomes. At the same time women work many more hours than men when considering both domestic and productive tasks. Women also have a reduced role in community decision-making and are less represented at all levels in the water resources management sector including at the level of water user associations. In addition, female headed households are more likely to be poor than male headed households. Resettlement plans need to ensure that women are fully consulted and not made more vulnerable by the project. SWM & IRS is not an intervention that targets particular people or households with specific access to benefits. Rather the project improves water resources management systems and infrastructure that will result in benefits to the general population in the target area. At a system-wide level, an important element of the project is to ensure that all stakeholders in the water resources sector, government, service providers and water users, are actively engaged in the planning and implementing improved water use and water services. Similarly, the project gender approach is to focus on ensuring that women are systematically included in these stakeholder groups and undertake specific actions to facilitate their participation. The gender action plan is therefore targeting the following concerns i) ensuring that the new curriculum and facilities for WRU accommodate the needs of women; (ii) the low level of representation of women in management and community leadership positions in the WRM sector and iii) mitigating negative impacts resettlement could have on women s economic position or on the level of vulnerability of female headed households. Training will provide women with leadership skills and gender equity awareness, and will support the entrée of women into leadership and management roles in the irrigation management system and the water user groups. It is clear that women must be provided with training if they are to manage the groups and irrigation systems in the absence of men who migrate. Irrigation can be seen as a microcosm of the local society as a whole, it women can be empowered in irrigation management it will hopefully lead to broader empowerment in the wider society. To address gender as a cross-cutting theme a summary Gender Action Plan has been prepared to demonstrate how gender needs to be integrated into each of the project components. The GAP can be updated during implementation to address each component and activity in detail for the duration of the project. RRP - Supplementary Appendix J 5

9 Table 1 Gender Action Plan Project Title Strengthening Water Management & Irrigation Rehabilitation Systems Classification General Intervention Budget Project Executing Agency Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development Project Impact Stakeholders Beneficiaries The expected impact of the project is an increased capacity to provide water management and water related services in Vietnam. Project Outcomes Increased number of qualified engineers and technicians in water resource management studies. Improved service delivery in the Bac Hung Hai irrigation and Drainage Scheme Increased agricultural production in the BHIO irrigation and drainage scheme. Gender Strategy Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development Departments of ARD in Bac Ninh, Hung Yen and Hai Duong Water Resources University Management and Faculty PPC and Chuong My District Provincial Bac Hung Hai and Provincial IDMC and District IMCs Students of the Water Resources University Residents of Chuong My District Residents of Bac Hung Hai Residents in sub-project sites Agriculture cooperative and Water User Association members Enhance women s participation in water resource sector by mainstreaming gender across all project outputs. Project Outputs Gender Objectives Activities Improved education for water sector professionals and technicians, stronger water sector research and development programs and upgraded educational facilities with equipment for WRU. Increase understanding of gender and water issues for water sector professionals. Increase number of female students and faculty in WRU. Ensure that women residents around campus site affected by resettlement are able to recover their livelihoods. Water Resources Education 1. Include gender education in curriculum addressing water use and society. 2. Design campus site and facilities to accommodate residency needs and other facilities for women. 3. An allocation of budget and space for the development of dormitories to house at least one-third of the student population. 50% of the dormitory space will be designated for use by female students as available on-site lodging will make attendance at university more viable for women. RRP Supplementary Appendix J 6

10 Ensure women have equal access to employment opportunities generated by campus during and after construction. 4. Consult with women students and faculty on campus site, design, buildings and equipment to ensure women s needs are addressed. All such consultations will include % of women stakeholders. Campus Construction 5. Fix target for hiring of women as hired labour for construction works (40 50% - TBD) 6. Ensure women are consulted on resettlement process at every stage through separate meetings and through dissemination of information through Women s Union. 7. Introduce special measures to improve situation of vulnerable female heads of households affected by resettlement. 8. Specific actions to address women s livelihood priorities in income restoration program. 9. Prepare women for employment opportunities created by new campus through income restoration program. Strengthened institutional capacity of water related service providers in the BHH irrigation and drainage scheme. Build recognition of women s role in irrigation and drainage management systems. Increase the active participation of women in the decision-making, management, operation and maintenance of the Bac Hung Hai system. 1. Allocation of resources for Gender Specialist for increasing women s participation in irrigation and drainage management. 2. Consultations with women s groups, through the Women s Union and through focus groups of women at village level, on how improvements in irrigation services management can address women s needs and priorities. 3. Women are 50% of the beneficiaries consulted on Vision and Strategy Development of BHH, and so that documentation and inclusion of women s needs and priorities related to water use are incorporated in the Strategy. 4. Gender sensitization for DARDs, IDMCs, IMCs to facilitate addressing lack of representation of women in the water resources sector compared with high number of female farmers. RRP Supplementary Appendix J 7

11 Construction and rehabilitation of BHH irrigation and drainage infrastructure Monitoring and Evaluation Ensure that women residents around construction sites affected by resettlement are able to recover their livelihoods. Ensure women have equal access to employment opportunities generated by new civil works during and after construction Ensure that women s access to benefits and enhanced participation in water resources management is measured as part of the project evaluations. 5. Identification of female staff in DARDs and BHH scheme to take active role in project and training plans for enhancing their capacity. 6. Training for women on increasing their capacity and confidence to take on leadership in water user associations. 7. Identification of follow-up activities to promote greater participation of women in cooperatives and water user associations by Gender Specialist and women s groups. 1. Ensure women are consulted on resettlement process at every stage through separate meetings and through dissemination of information through Women s Union. 2. Introduce special measures to improve situation of vulnerable female heads of households affected by resettlement. 3. Specific actions to address women s livelihood priorities in income restoration program. 4. Fix target for hiring of women for civil works. 5. Fix target for hiring of women for operation and maintenance of new structures. 1. Inclusion of gender-based indicators in project DMS. 2. Identification of gender disaggregated impacts (esp. health) and mitigation actions. 3. Participation of women (as technicians and beneficiaries) in monitoring. RRP Supplementary Appendix J 8