Linking demand, gender and poverty for sustainability

NEWAH began a gender mainstreaming process in January 1999 in its organisation and programme. At the programme level this involved establishing a Gender and Poverty (GAP) Unit comprising 6 operational teams of both technical and social staff, which successfully piloted a GAP approach in 5 communities in 5 regions of Nepal (three gravity flow and two groundwater projects). Some initial results of the GAP pilot projects suggest that actions taken to target women and poorest community members have been effective in leading to greater inclusion of often excluded groups in making decisions throughout the service planning and implementation process of projects. Also that giving voice and choice to more community people – the poor, better off, women and men, boys and girls – and letting them influence (or control) the process of the service establishment is empowering them to potentially manage and sustain their services more effectively.