UNICEF Pacific
TERMS OF REFERENCE FOR CONSULTANT
Gender assessment of WASH programs in
Vanuatu
Requesting Section:
H & S – WASH, Vanuatu
Programme Area and Specific Project involved:
H&S Vanuatu; Community resilience and coping with climate
change and natural disasters in Vanuatu
UNTFHS / SC110398
**********************************************************************************
1. Purpose of assignment:
The consultant shall assess the level of gender mainstreaming of WASH implementing partners in
Vanuatu and propose improvements to strengthen gender mainstreaming into WASH programming by
the sector stakeholders.
2. Background
Access to safe water and sanitary facilities and proper hygiene behaviors are a key factor in the child
survival. Diarrhea causes the deaths of 1.5 million children under five globally every year. In 88% of
these can be directly attributed to unsafe water, poor sanitation and inadequate hygiene. The
Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), expiring in 2015, recognize the access to water and
sanitation. The target for the MDG 7, is to half the population without access to improved water and
sanitation by half by 2015. The Government of Vanuatu has adopted the MDG target in its Priorities
and Action Agenda 2006 – 2015. The National Water Strategy (2008-2018) explicitly states a target
for water to 95% of the population, by 2018, while the target for sanitation is less well defined.
It is well recognized that gender plays a role in water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH). Generally,
women who tend to be the major water users, while looking after the household and children, whereas
men are usually the decision makers and builders when it comes to WASH infrastructure. To take
these two different gender roles into account and successfully plan and develop WASH infrastructure,
it is important to mainstream gender in a WASH programs. In this way, the benefits for the end users
of water and sanitation projects can be improved, by ensuring the participation of women in all stages
in the design and implementation of the project.
UNICEF Pacific is committed to mainstreaming gender in its WASH program design to maximize
results for women and children. A recent mid-term review of the Community resilience and coping
with climate-change and natural disasters in Vanuatu project recommended that a gender assessment
be undertaken to guide programme design and implementation. This recommendation would also
strengthen gender mainstreaming in future and ongoing WASH programs by UNICEF, government,
Non-Government Organizations (NGOs) and other stakeholders, as this can give long term and
scalable results.
The WASH program of Kiribati recently conducted a gender assessment and developed a gender
checklist. The checklist is a tool to cross check whether the project design and implementation have
included the aspect of gender. With this tool, a program can diagnose to what extend it has been
gender mainstreamed and develop corrective actions.
UNICEF WASH program in Vanuatu therefore would like to tailor the diagnostic tool to the Vanuatu
context, conduct a diagnosis of the Vanuatu WASH sector, and propose implementable
recommendations towards the WASH stakeholders in Vanuatu.
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3. Scope of work / work assignment
The consultant shall develop a detailed proposal for the assignment based on the methodology below.
The consultant is encouraged to submit improvements to the steps listed below if necessary.
3.1 Methodology:
A. Desk review
Tailor the available gender checklist and propose possible improvement based on other
available documents (see Annex A). Map the WASH sector stakeholders and conduct a desk
review on their strategy, plans and reports with the gender checklist.
B. Interview with sector stakeholder
In-depth interviews with WASH implementing partners program staff on the current practice.
Validate the findings from the desk review and probe for explanations for the results of the
diagnosis.
C. Report writing
Based on the desk review and interviews an initial report can be drafted with the sector
findings. Scores to what extend gender has been incorporated into the WASH program per
agency should be identifiable, but can only be made public with consent.
D. Workshop, sharing of findings.
A gender & WASH workshop should be organized and findings shared receiving feedback
from the sector stakeholders, which will feed into the final report. A way forward for the
sector should be discussed based on the findings. The finalization of the report and a brief
presentation towards key decision makers will conclude the assessment.
3.2 Scope & limitations:
The consultant can use the gender checklist developed by UNICEF (see Annex A). The study should
cover, at least the following organizations:
- UNICEF
- Department of Geology, Mines and Water Resources (DGMWR)
- CARE
- World Vision
- Oxfam
- Red Cross
- Live and Learn
- Vango
- ADRA
- World Bank - projects implementing WASH
Plans and reports can be facilitated from UNICEF and the Department of Geology, Mines and Water
Resources (DGMWR). Reports and plans from other WASH implementing organizations are to be
collected by the consultant.
UNICEF can make introductions to the government and implementing partners for stakeholder
interviews. Setting appointments with the stakeholders is up to the responsibility of the consultant.
UNICEF can organize a workshop and carry the costs for the venue and snacks, however other items
need to be developed and taken care of by the consultant. UNICEF can make arrangements for a brief
presentation to the key policymakers.
4. Work schedule and duration:
The period of the consultancy is expected to take approximately six weeks, to begin in April 2015.
5. Deliverables/end products:
The consultant will produce the following deliverables, which need to be approved by the WASH
Advisor in Port Vila:
1. Inception report with detailed implementation plan (after signing of the contract)
2. Revised WASH Gender Checklist (after desk review)
3. Diagnoses report of WASH sector (after interviews)
4. Workshop report (after the workshop)
5. Final report (after the workshop and comments
6. Payment Schedule:
The consultant is expected to develop a detailed workplan as part of the inception report. Payments
will be made in accordance with UNICEF financial rules and regulations and based on the
deliverables below.
Deliverable
1. Inception report with detailed implementation plan (after signing of the contract)
2. Revised WASH Gender Checklist (after desk review)
3. Diagnoses report of WASH sector (after interviews)
4. Workshop report (after the workshop)
5. Final report (after the workshop and comments
Payment
50%
50%
7. Type of supervision provided
The consultant will report to the UNICEF WASH Advisor based in Port Vila, Vanuatu. The
consultant is expected to deliver the end products stated in para. 6 to the WASH Advisor as per
approved inception report. It is expected that the consultant can conduct this assignment with minimal
support and supervision.
8. Consultant’s work plan and Official Travel Involved:
The assignment will need to be undertaken in Port Vila, Vanuatu. In case the consultant is from
outside Port Vila travel needs to be undertaken to Port Vila and included into the financial bid.
Limited local travels are expected within Port Vila to visit the offices of the WASH stakeholders.
9. Consultant’s work place:
The consultant will work out of the consultant’s home office / office or hotel in Port Vila.
10. Qualifications:
The consultant is expected to have the following qualifications:
 Degree in gender studies or social science and relevant field experience
 In-depth knowledge and experience in gender and development; gender assessments, gender
mainstreaming etc.
 Familiarity with Water, Sanitation and Hygiene programs
 Experience working in the Pacific and in work experience in Vanuatu is considered an asset
 Good verbal and written communication skills in English; Bislama is an asset
 Ability to work independently
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11. UNICEF Standard Terms and Conditions
1. LEGAL STATUS
Individuals engaged under a consultant contract serve in a personal capacity and not as representatives of
a Government or of any other authority external to the United Nations. They are neither "staff members"
under the Staff Regulations of the United Nations and UNICEF policies and procedures nor "officials" for
the purpose of the Convention of 13 February 1946 on the privileges and immunities of the United Nations.
Consultants may, however, be given the status of "experts on mission" in the sense of Section 22 of Article
VI of the Convention. If they are required to travel on behalf of the United Nations, they may be given a
United Nations certification in accordance with Section 26 of Article VII of the Convention.
2. OBLIGATIONS
Consultants shall have the duty to respect the impartiality and independence of the United Nations and
shall neither seek nor accept instructions regarding the services to be performed for UNICEF from any
Government or from any authority external to the United Nations. During their period of service for
UNICEF, consultants shall refrain from any conduct that would adversely reflect on the United Nations or
UNICEF and shall not engage in any activity that is incompatible with the discharge of their duties with the
Organization. Consultants are required to exercise the utmost discretion in all matters of official business
of the Organization. In particular, but without limiting the foregoing, consultants are expected to conduct
themselves in a manner consistent with the Standards of Conduct in the International Civil Service.
Consultants are to comply with the UNICEF Standards of Electronic Conduct and the requirements set
forth in the Secretary General's Bulletin on Special Measures for Protection from Sexual Exploitation and
Sexual Abuse, both of which are incorporated by reference into the contract between the consultants and
UNICEF. Unless otherwise authorized by the appropriate official in the office concerned, consultants shall
not communicate at any time to the media or to any institution, person, Government or other authority
external to UNICEF any information that has not been made public and which has become known to them
by reason of their association with the United Nations. The consultant may not use such information
without the written authorization of UNICEF. Nor shall the consultant use such information for private
advantage. These obligations do not lapse upon cessation of service with UNICEF.
3. TITLE RIGHTS
UNICEF shall be entitled to all property rights, including but not limited to patents, copyrights and
trademarks, with regard to material which bears a direct relation to, or is made in consequence of, the
services provided to the Organization by the consultant. At the request of UNICEF, the consultant shall
assist in securing such property rights and transferring them to the Organization in compliance with the
requirements of the applicable law.
4. TRAVEL
If consultants are required by UNICEF to travel beyond commuting distance from their usual place of
residence, such travel at the expense of UNICEF shall be governed by conditions equivalent to the
relevant provisions of the 100 series of the United Nations Staff Rules (Chapter VII) and relevant UNICEF
policies and procedures. Travel by air by the most direct and economical route is the normal mode for
travel at the expense of UNICEF. Such travel will be by business class if the journey is nine hours or
longer and by economy class if the journey is less than nine hours, and first class by rail.
5. MEDICAL CLEARANCE
Consultants expected to work in any office of the Organization shall be required to submit a statement of
good health prior to commencement of work and to take full responsibility for the accuracy of that
statement, including confirmation that they have been fully informed regarding inoculations required for the
country or countries to which travel is authorized.
6. INSURANCE
Consultants are fully responsible for arranging, at their own expense, such life, health and other forms of
insurance covering the period of their services on behalf of UNICEF as they consider appropriate.
Consultants are not eligible to participate in the life or health insurance schemes available to United
Nations staff members. The responsibility of the United Nations and UNICEF is limited solely to the
payment of compensation under the conditions described in paragraph 7 below.
7. SERVICE INCURRED DEATH, INJURY OR ILLNESS
Consultants who are authorized to travel at UNICEF's expense or who are required under the contract to
perform their services in a United Nations or UNICEF office, or their dependants as appropriate, shall be
entitled in the event of death, injury or illness attributable to the performance of services on behalf of
UNICEF while in travel status or while working in an office of the Organization on official UNICEF business
to compensation equivalent to the compensation which, under Appendix D to the United Nations Staff
Rules (ST/SGB/Staff Rules/Appendix D/Rev.1 and Amend.1), would be payable to a staff member at step
V of the First Officer (P-4) level of the Professional category.
8. ARBITRATION
Any dispute arising out of or, in connection with, this contract shall, if attempts at settlement by negotiation
have failed, be submitted to arbitration in New York by a single arbitrator agreed to by both parties.
Should the parties be unable to agree on a single arbitrator within thirty days of the request for arbitration,
then each party shall proceed to appoint one arbitrator and the two arbitrators thus appointed shall agree
on a third. Failing such agreement, either party may request the appointment of the third arbitrator by the
President of the United Nations Administrative Tribunal. The decision rendered in the arbitration shall
constitute final adjudication of the dispute.
9. TERMINATION OF CONTRACT
This contract may be terminated by either party before the expiry date of the contract by giving notice in
writing to the other party. The period of notice shall be five days in the case of contracts for a total period
of less than two months and fourteen days in the case of contracts for a longer period; provided however
that in the event of termination on the grounds of misconduct by the consultant, UNICEF shall be entitled
to terminate the contract without notice.
In the event of the contract being terminated prior to its due expiry date in this way, the consultant shall be
compensated on a pro rata basis for no more than the actual amount of work performed to the satisfaction
of UNICEF. Additional costs incurred by the United Nations resulting from the termination of the contract
by the consultant may be withheld from any amount otherwise due to the consultant from UNICEF.
10. TAXATION
The United Nations and UNICEF undertake no liability for taxes, duty or other contribution payable by the
consultant on payments made under this contract. No statement of earnings will be issued by the United
Nations or UNICEF to the consultant.
Prepared by Section Chief:
Name/Title:
Date
____________________
Approved by Deputy Representative **
Name:
Date
** All Programme TORs to be approved by Deputy Representative and Operations TOR to be approved
by Operations Manager.
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ETHICS FOR SAFEGARDING THE INTERESTS/RIGHTS OF CHILDREN AND WOMEN IN
RESEARCH
NON-DISCRIMINATION
When consultants conduct interview/focused group research/survey that involves third party, consultants
shall ensure that selection of participants and the processes and methods used serve to correct, not
reinforce, patterns of exclusion. This requires attention to socio-economic barriers including gender and
age discrimination as well as the different ways and capacities in which children and women express
themselves.
PARTICIPATION
Consultants shall ensure that the purposes and processes of the research are fully explained, using
alternative forms of communication where necessary and making reference to any implications for
participants of time, cost and the possible influence of the outcomes. The way information is conveyed
must be appropriate to the context and to the child capabilities when child is involved.
INFORMED CONSENT
Consultant shall ensure that the participants know their right to refuse or to withdraw from the research at
any time and obtaining verbal or written consent without coercion. Parental consent is not an adequate
standard in light of the rights of the child and consent should be ongoing negotiation process with child.
IDENTIFICATION OF RISKS
Consultant should be mindful of the risks involving children and women in the research. Consultant should
withhold information where that information may place them at risk and take necessary measures to
protect them from placing themselves at risk.
CONFIDENTIALITY
Consultants shall offer conditional anonymity and confidentiality to all participants and explain to
participants the limitation of confidentiality and possible intervention based on what is in their best
interests. Consultant is fully responsible for identifying the follow-up action and referrals to be made in
case confidentiality is broken.
MISUSE OF INFORMATION
Consultants are fully responsible for considering the short and long term consequences of the research
from the different perspectives of participants, policy-makers, researchers and UNICEF.
Annex A: WASH Gender Checklist
Gender and WASH checklist for Kiribati
Purpose:
This checklist is designed for water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) practitioners in Kiribati as a
guideline for effectively mainstreaming gender throughout all WASH initiatives. It is particularly relevant to
community based approaches and outer islands but can also be adhered to the South Tarawa context. It is
designed to ensure gender sensitivity across the project lifecycle and should be included as part of the project
monitoring schedule. This checklist is designed for WASH practitioners and assumes no gender expertise of the
user. Practical and background information is provided to increase the depth of understanding and enhance
effectiveness.
Rationale:
We need to give all groups within Kiribati equal opportunity to participate in the design, management,
operation and maintenance of water, sanitation and hygiene initiatives in order to ensure safe and resilient
communities. Women and girls are disproportionately affected by a lack of or insufficient sanitation facilities;
Gender norms combined with physiology ensures that women require more privacy, particularly during post
partum and menstruation. A lack of proper WASH facilities can have additional flow on affects for women and
girls including being at risk of violence or harassment when travelling to practice open defecation and on girl’s
access to education as a result of missing school during menstruation. Women and girls in Kiribati bear most of
the burden of carrying, using and protecting water. They also have the most responsibility for environmental
sanitation and home health.
Strategic context:
There is a need in Kiribati to promote the role of women and girls in WASH programmes beyond service
recipients towards active participants in the operation and management of services. Effectively mainstreaming
gender in WASH initiatives ensures they better address the needs of all members of the community and promote
the amplification of benefits within and across generations; ultimately promoting child well-being and
development. WASH initiatives must effectively integrate gender by both addressing practical gender needs and
ensuring strategic gender interests including ingrained gender bias, are accounted for.
Methodology:
The checklist is divided into a number of key areas to ensure a balanced and comprehensive approach
to mainstreaming gender. It has been designed to be used by a variety of practitioners including those with
minimal gender knowledge and expertise. The inclusion of practical considerations for each point promotes the
useability of this checklist and allows it to be more effectively integrated into existing project monitoring
procedures. It aims to ensure a balanced approach to gender mainstreaming encompassing all aspects of gender
in Kiribati society. Definitions of terms that govern the conversation around gender have been included, as well
as recommendations for mainstreaming throughout the lifecycle of a project. It is designed to consider both
practical gender needs as well as opportunities for addressing strategic gender interests. It should be
acknowledged that there are some differences in gender norms between South Tarawa and outer islands as well
as amongst outer islands. These should be accounted for and a local context considered in the application of this
checklist.
Key concepts:
A prerequisite for successfully integrating gender into WASH programming is understanding the various
definitions, terms and concepts that govern the conversation. Familiarity with the following terms will better
enable practitioners to effectively utilise the checklist and maximise the impact of gender mainstreaming actions.
Gender
Gender refers to the socially and culturally defined set of roles, rights, responsibilities, entitlements, and
obligations of women, men, boys and girls.
Gender Equity
Gender Equity is the process of being fair to women, men, boys and girls. To ensure fairness, measures
must be available to compensate for historical and social disadvantages that prevent women and men from
otherwise operating on an equitable basis. Equity leads to equality. Gender equality and gender equity have
different meanings, but are related terms
Gender Equality
Gender equality means that women, men, girls and boys, enjoy the same rights, resources,
opportunities and protections.
Gender mainstreaming
Gender mainstreaming means that the needs and interests of both women and men are taken into
account systematically across all programmes and projects and in an organisation’s structure and management.
It means that women as well as men participate in defining objectives and planning so that development actions
satisfy the priorities and needs of women, men, girls and boys.
Gender disaggregated data
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Gender disaggregated data is Data that separate out women’s, men’s, boys’ and girls’ activities and
perspectives. Data can also be disaggregated by age, location, ethnic group, etc. to help understand the different
experiences of different groups and target solutions effectively.
Gender blind
When a project of programme is gender blind, it is related to human activities but does not include a
gender dimension.
Gender sensitivity
Gender sensitivity refers to the ability to perceive existing gender differences, issues and equalities, and
incorporate these into strategies and actions.
GENDER LENS
Gender lens refers to adopting a metaphorical lens through which to view a programme, project or policy
and its implications for the differing roles, rights and responsibilities for women, men, boys and girls.
Female Empowerment
When women and girls acquire the power to act freely, exercise their rights, and fulfil their potential as
full and equal members of society. While empowerment often comes from within, and individuals empower
themselves, cultures, societies, and institutions create conditions that facilitate or undermine the possibilities for
empowerment.
Gendered division of labour
Gendered division of labour refers to the different roles and activities assigned to people as a result of
their gender. Men, women, boys and girls have different roles in Kiribati society and within households; this
includes differing roles in productive labour, reproductive labour, household labour and community management.
Generally women are responsible for the bulk of household chores such as washing, cleaning, cooking as well as
caring for children, whilst men play a more prominent role in physical activities and decision making such as;
building and maintenance of the house, fishing, tending pigs and chickens and serving on village councils.
Access to and control over resources
Women, men, girls and boys have different access to and control over water and sanitation facilities in
Kiribati. Whilst there are few inequities in the availability of fresh water, different members of households use
water, sanitation and hygiene resources and facilities in different ways.Typically women are responsible for water
usage in the household, such as for washing and cooking, whilst men have greater influence in household and
community decision making about Water and sanitation.
Practical gender needs and strategic gender interests
Men, Women, Boys and Girls have different practical Water, sanitation and hygiene needs. Physiology
and gender norms ensure that women and adolescent girls require more privacy and greater access to sanitation
facilities, particularly during post partum and menstruation. Practical gender needs refers to the concrete and
practical needs women, men, boys and girls have for survival and economic advancement, which ultimately do
not challenge ingrained gender bias. Strategic gender interests refer to the relative status of men, women, boys
and girls in Kiribati society. Which may include increased decision making, legal rights and protection from
domestic violence, these initiatives are designed to bring greater equality between men, women, boys and girls
and to eliminate all forms of sexual discrimination. It is crucial to ensure programmes address the practical
gender needs that men, women, boys and girls have in the area of WASH, however this might not be sustainable
without also addressing strategic gender interests.
Influence factors
There are also a number of characteristics that overlap with gender to affect the way water, sanitation
and hygiene resources are distributed and accessed as well as used. Age, social class, type of family
organisation, marital status, religion and disability all interact with gender and can create multiple deprivations
and layers of discrimination. To ensure the inclusion of all Women, Men, Girls and Boys it is vital to consider
these factors in planning and implementation of WASH initiatives.
Gender dimensions of resilience and WASH
The strengthening and improvement of WASH services in Kiribati represents a practical measure that
will increase the resilience of Women, Men, Boys and girls to respond to climate change and disasters. Under
most climate change scenarios, water resources in Kiribati will be seriously compromised (IPCC, 2007). Kiribati
has no significant surface water resources and limited groundwater sources making it extremely vulnerable to
changes in rainfall patterns, wave over topping and sea level rise (UNEP 2012). Changes in the climate will
exacerbate existing challenges affecting water availability, such as increasing population densities and improper
water management practices. A 10% reduction in average rainfall would reduce the freshwater lens on Tarawa
by 20%, and that this would be further compounded by sea-level rise potentially reducing the lens a further 29%
(IPCC 2007).
Ensuring gender is effectively mainstreamed into all WASH initiatives in Kiribati contributes to the ability
of all members of communities to respond to climate change and disasters. The WASH component of the Gender
and Climate change toolkit (The Secretariat of the Pacific Community) may be useful to reference in conjunction
with
this
checklist:
http://www.genderclimate.org/Content/Docs/Publications/SPC_PacificGenderClimateChangeToolkit.pdf
Mainstreaming Gender throughout the project lifecycle:
Mainstreaming gender throughout all aspects of WASH programme or project lifecycles is integral to
ensuring that Women, Men, Boys and girls are all benefitting equally from interventions. In the mainstreaming
process it is important to consider:
•
How have men and women fed into the decision making and priority setting process?
•
Do men and women have equal access and control of resources necessary to participate and benefit
fully?
•
Are their different needs and priorities being met?
•
Do men and women have specific knowledge and skills and are these being utilised to contribute to
better outcomes?
•
Does the program take advantage of opportunities for female empowerment and to address strategic
gender needs?
Mainstreaming gender in project documentation including proposals, monitoring frameworks and project
tools acts as an instrument of accountability. WASH Project management teams are only accountable for
delivering what is specified in the project framework therefore explicitly including gender in all aspects of the
project lifecycle will ensure there is a sustained and consistent effort to account for the differences of Women,
Men, Boys and Girls.
1) Gender in planning and design:
Engendering project frameworks, documents, tools and processes
WASH project teams should consider whether gender is effectively mainstreamed throughout all project
documents. This should include:

Opportunities for meaningful participations of women, men, boys and girls in all aspects of project
planning and implementation

Differing needs of women, men, boys and girls

Differing roles in decision making around WASH

Opportunities for the empowerment of women and girls in the WASH sector
Opportunities for inclusion of gender in documents:
1.1) Specific target groups:
It should be clear which areas of the project are targeted to women, which to men and which to both.
Replacing general terms such as ‘community members’ and ‘recipients’ with ‘Women, Men, boys and girls’
ensures all members of society are clearly visible.
1.2) Purpose and goal(s) of project:
The promotion of gender equity and equality should be a goal of all water, sanitation and hygiene
initiatives. Gender should be reflected in project indicators and also in the wording of the overall goal of the
project.
1.3) Outputs:
Whilst in certain projects it may be useful to have dedicated outputs specifically focused on gender it is
also important not to isolate the issue within one resource, ensuring limited influence on the project as a whole.
Any targeted outputs should compliment gender mainstreaming activities and gender should be included in
indicators and any associated activities.
1.4) Activities:
The promotion of benefit for all women, men, boys and girls requires some targeted activities, supported
by both human and financial resources. Where it is appropriate explicit references to gender issues and
mainstreaming activities should be included in the logical framework.
Key aspects to consider when developing Gender indicators for WASH initiatives:
•
What change do you want to see?
•
Are there existing national or island level indicators that could be used or adapted?
•
What data already exists or is being collected that can assist in tracking changes?
•
How will the data collected be analysed and disseminated?
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Developing gender indicators for WASH projects
What do you want the indicator to tell
What information is needed to
answer the question?
Are men, women, boys and girls equally
participating in the WASH project?
Women’s, men’s, boys’ and
girls’ participation as users, facilitators
and decision makers.
you?
Examples of Indicators
# of participants at community
mobilisation event (Women/Men/Boys/Girls)
Source of information
Project
documentation
Monitoring
tools
and
Project
documentation
Monitoring
tools
and
# of community facilitators for the
project (Women/Men/Boys/Girls)
Are men, women, boys and
benefiting equally from the WASH project?
girls
The
positive
impact
to
addressing the rights and needs of
women, men, boys and girls.
# of Women/Men/Boys/girls with
improved access to sanitation facilities
#
of
cases
of
diarrhoea(Women/Men/Boys/Girls)
# of Men/ Women/ boys/girls who
received training as part of the project
# of Men/Women/Boys/Girls satisfied
with toilet design and function
Are the different roles of men, women,
boys and girls in household and community labour
accounted for in the design and implementation of
the project?
Whether the project exacerbates
or addresses existing inequalities in the
gendered division of labour at both
household and community levels
Indicators of process -institutionalization
of gender mainstreaming.
Gender balance & expertise,
sex-disaggregated planning & monitoring
systems, gender strategy
# of additional hours per week spent on
WASH related household choresWomen/men/boys/girls
# of hours per week spent on
community
WASH
initiativesWomen/men/boys/girls
#
of
WASH
project
staffwomen/men/boys/girls
User surveys, focus groups
User surveys, focus groups
Institutional assessment
2 ) Gender in Implementation of community based WASH initiatives
Capacity of staff, project partners and community facilitators:
Actions to ensure capacity of staff, project partners and community facilitators in the area of gender
should be included in project plans, backed up with adequate resourcing, with ownership taken by key staff and
subsequently measured using appropriate indicators of change. Training initiatives should include equal numbers
of men and women and should be contextualised to the specific project and target communities.
Gender focal point:
Nominating a staff member to act as gender focal point within the project management unit can be a
useful mechanism to ensure that gender is mainstreamed throughout the project. This designation however
should be backed up by financial resources, institutional capacity and care should be chosen in determining the
appropriate person for this role.
Female empowerment and Gender equality in community WASH committees.
Community based WASH initiatives; particularly CLTS can in themselves be effective tools for female
empowerment. The encouragement of female representation on WASH committees in implementing communities
not only ensures female representation in decision making; it can promote female empowerment and build the
capacity of women to engage in the sector. Women and girls should be given appropriate training and tools and
projects should be mindful of existing household and reproductive divisions of labour.
Integrating gender into WASH information, communication and education materials:
Ensuring gender is integrated into all information, communication and education materials will ensure
key WASH messages are gender sensitive and reach whole communities. It will also allow you to identify who
are the connectors and communicators within households and communities that will help disseminate messages
widely and effectively.
Gender in Monitoring and evaluation of WASH initiatives
Gender sensitive monitoring and evaluation frameworks:
Gender and WASH monitoring and evaluation is not only about sex-disaggregated indicators, It must
provide a way to evaluate qualitatively how men and women have benefitted from the programme and provide
examples of where women’s involvement or lack of has affected outcomes. Gender should be included in routine
systems and procedures including information systems, appraisal, planning and monitoring procedures. Gender
should be effectively integrated in monitoring frameworks, ensuring both relevant specific indicators and
integration into framework as a whole. Monitoring staff should have access to guidelines and tools focused on
gender mainstreaming to ensure they have the capacity to implement effectively.
1.
2.
Checklist:
Meaningful participation: Does the project encourage meaningful
participation from Men, Women, Boys and Girls?
Practical considerations:
-Is there equal participation of men and women at all stages: initiation,
design, site location, and implementation?
-Is there equal opportunities for men and women to participate as community
facilitators in the project?
-Are there equal economic opportunities from WASH interventions?
- Do women have equal access to training, paid jobs or other opportunities
created though WASH projects?
Needs, interests, priorities:
Does the project consider the different needs, interests and priorities of
Women, Men, Boys and girls in regards to WASH?
-Does the project consider the different ways women, men, boys and girls
use Water and sanitation services and facilities?
-Does the project consider the different needs stemming from gender norms
and physiology?
-Does the project consider the differences in gender norms amongst
communities and islands within Kiribati?
3.
Decision making: Does the project encourage equal participation in decision
making
-Is there equal representation of women and men in village decision making
bodies?
4.
-Are women, men, boys and girls all involved in the decision-making
process to plan and manage services, such as: where the services are located? The
quality of services? The type of services needed?
Division of household labour: Have the differing roles of women, men, boys
and girls within the household been considered in the design and implementation of
the project?
-Are community meetings schedule at an appropriate time to enable all
community members to attend?
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-is the responsibility of conducting additional tasks associated with the
project divided equally amongst Men and Women?
5.
Design and technical function: Has the design and technical function of
WASH products incorporated the different needs for women and men, boys and girls?
-Have the physical and cultural aspects of gender been included in
sanitation services and hygiene promotion projects?
- Do the sanitation services provide privacy and convenience for women
and
girls?
- Is the whole family trained in hygiene promotion?
5
Mainstreaming capacity:
Is there sufficient capacity of project staff and community facilitators to
mainstream gender?
Are resources allocated to implement gender strategies (e.g. participatory
approaches, gender assessments, specially targeted projects) within agency service
activities?
-Have staff and community facilitators received gender sensitivity training?
-Is there a nominated gender focal point?
-Are there appropriate resources and guidance material for staff and
community facilitators to assist mainstreaming?
-Are there appropriate incentives/ imperatives to compel staff to mainstream
gender throughout the project lifecycle?
-Is there institutional awareness and commitment to promote equality in
representation between women and men in the water agency; equal compensation for
equal work, and equal opportunities for training?
6
Information Education and Communication materials:
Do Information, Education and communication materials address gender?
-Do implementation and communication strategies inform women and men
how to participate equitably in all phases of the WASH project cycle?
-Does the information they provide account for existing gender inequities?
-Do communication materials encourage ownership of WASH behaviours
from women, men, boys and girls?
8
Monitoring:
Does the project measure and monitor for separate effects on women, men,
girls and boys?
-Do project documents include specific gender indicators?
-Is sex disaggregated data gathered?
- Do the projects explicitly measure for the effects on women and men, boys
and
girls?
- Do they assess the changes in women’s and men’s involvement in the project, and
their access to and control of resources?
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Strategic interests:
Does the project consider the strategic interests of women, men, boys and
girls?
-Will the activities directly impact the inequalities between girls and boys,
women and men?
-Do the water and sanitation programme objectives work
toward
gender balance?
-How will they change the condition and position of women and girls and that
of men and boys with respect to:- domestic chores?- community management?involvement in water supply,?- household sanitation? - Hygiene behavioural
activities?
Implementation of the checklist:
This checklist is designed to be used routinely throughout the project lifecycle and should be integrated
into monitoring plans. Practical considerations may be expanded or adapted to ensure project and community
contextualisation. Relevant components of the checklist should be reflected in data collection tools, including
community surveys.