Exploring gender mainstreaming in SUMERNET 4ALL Projects: what works and what needs work?

Water is an essential and indispensable resource that supports the existence and well-being of all. Ensuring access to clean water and implementing efficient water management practices is a multifaceted issue beyond physical infrastructure and policy frameworks. The influence of gender dynamics is significant in shaping the processes of water access, management, and decision-making.

Gender mainstreaming plays a crucial role in water governance research. Firstly, it is imperative to promote equity and social justice by actively acknowledging and addressing the distinct obstacles encountered by women and marginalized communities. Secondly, sustainability and resilience can be facilitated through the utilization of the knowledge and expertise possessed by women and marginalized groups. Third, it can aid in accomplishing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly Goal 5 on gender equality and Goal 6 on clean water and sanitation.

By acknowledging and analyzing various intersections between gender and water governance, it becomes possible to uncover the inherent power dynamics, social norms, and inequalities that shape the access, utilization, and decision-making processes related to water resources.

Challenges to integrating a gender perspective in water research 

Despite the growing acknowledgment of gender equality in the realm of water resources management, there exist various obstacles that impede the successful incorporation of a gender perspective into water research initiatives.

The challenges encompass a range of factors, including a dearth of awareness and comprehension regarding gender-related issues, a scarcity of data and research on the intersection of gender and water, resistance to change, inadequate resources and expertise, limited engagement of women, lack of institutional support, and a constrained political will^[1].

1. Variable understanding of gender mainstreaming across projects: Gender Mainstreaming was not consistently understood or prioritized across the examined projects. While some projects demonstrated a strong emphasis on gender integration, others did not prioritize it as prominently. The project proposals reflected the level of comprehension of their stated goals, justifications, and questions for the research.
2. Significant consideration of gender within project design and implementation: among the three studied projects,  two projects showcased commendable practices in the planning and design stage. They actively included women's organizations, assigned women as co-leaders, and ensured their active involvement in decision-making processes. Furthermore, gender inclusion guidelines were integrated into the research design, and collaboration with local stakeholders, including the provincial Department of Women Affairs, was emphasized. These practices represented women's perspectives and needs in project activities.
3. Gender responsive methodologies: Among the common usage of the participatory approach in the methodologies of the projects, the use of gaming data collection was one of the innovative approaches used by one of the project teams. It served as a valuable tool to foster inclusivity and a comprehensive understanding of water security in the local community. By employing a modified version of Monopoly, where participants act as farmers, diverse perspectives and opinions were captured. Separating players into men and women groups revealed unique insights: the women focus on homestay economics, while the men emphasize farm growth and the benefits of infrastructure. Interviews further validated these findings. This approach highlighted the distinct needs and priorities of different genders, enhancing our understanding of water security challenges.

Obstacles hindering the practice of gender mainstreaming

Many of the research projects faced constraints in their research activities (as earlier discussed in a public webinar), in particular, the COVID-19 pandemic that hindered community participation and data collection. In terms of gender mainstreaming effort, a lack of women in positions of leadership and technical expertise, as well as a lack of resources, poor communication, resistance to change, and negative social stereotypes specifically hindered the projects’ endeavor of gender mainstreaming effort in the studied projects.

Lessons learnt and best practices: Important takeaways and recommended approaches were gleaned from the projects’ experiences. These include deliberate incorporation and consideration of gender perspectives throughout the project cycle, the importance of equal participation and foster collaboration between men and women for a better understanding of different perspectives and different needs, spending time with the local community to build relationships and understand local contexts and barriers and advocating for gender inclusion to influence local decision-makers. Other best practices include having equal representation in discussions and workshops, giving participants enough time to express themselves, and using visual aids and simulations to improve communication and inclusivity.

To further promote the integration of gender mainstreaming within ongoing and future projects of SUMERNET 4 ALL, it is suggested that the following measures be taken: 

1. Providing grantees with extensive gender training will enable them to develop a deeper comprehension of how to incorporate gender considerations into their research inquiries and project undertakings from the initial stages, ultimately leading to sustainable outcomes.
2. Placing particular emphasis on conducting a gender analysis using an innovative approach, such as using gaming and simulation techniques, can help to identify gender-specific issues, perspectives, and positions. This provides valuable insights that can inform the research questions and guide the development of strategies for effectively incorporating gender considerations.
3. Provision of augmented expert assistance to the SUMERNET grantees, facilitating knowledge sharing and providing guidance on methods for integrating gender considerations and conducting gender analysis, whenever feasible, beyond the standard approaches.

This piece is based on a recent study conducted by SUMERNET Fellow Si Thu Lin, “ “Mainstreaming gender in water governance research: lessons learnt from SUMERNET 4 ALL” that identified several factors that work for gender mainstreaming in SUMERNET projects. The insights showcase what has been effective and areas that still need improvement for the gender inclusion within the selected projects[2].