Mainstreaming gender in sanitation

The Integrated Water and Environmental Sanitation (IWES) Project is implemented in the Indian state of Jharkhand by the local government and seven NGOs. Funded by SIDA, and coordinated by UNICEF, the project promotes sanitation in rural East Singhbhum district. There is increasing acknowledgement that gender mainstreaming is essential if development projects are to address the strategic needs of women. In East Singhbhum, though, it has proved difficult to engage women in decision- making processes. Research was therefore undertaken to investigate local gender dynamics and their underlying causes, in the context of the sanitation element of the IWES Project. Fieldwork was carried out under UNICEF’s Internship Scheme over a period of 3 months in 2001. The study areas included in three tribal villages (Bangora, Kuilisuta and Korashole) in Musabani Block, and two villages in Phulwarisarif Block, near Patna, where UNICEF is supporting development through Convergent Community Action (CCA). The research was greatly assisted by the NGOs SEEDS and IDF.