Message 11: Pay Dreschel

Read here, a response from Pay Drechsel. Pay sees the main issues that challenge the integration of gender concerns into water management and agriculture as stemming from its marginalization on university curricula particularly in the technical fields.

Why is it important to mainstream a gender perspective in agricultural water management? (A maximum of 3 points preferably with supporting cases or examples)

As also Gina (message 6) indicated, this was answered over the last 10+ years in sufficient publications and I would question the need to ask this again.

What are the real issues that challenge the integration of gender concerns into water management and agriculture? (3 points with evidence-supporting cases and examples)

Very valid question: My answer is that gender mainstreaming does not receive sufficient attention in our university education, especially in technical and biophysical disciplines in developing countries, and independently if it concerns land or water management. If we would get the right perspective already at the start, it would be less a challenge later on. That's for me the real issue.

Why is gender not mainstreamed in water management in agriculture? (3 points with evidence)

Why are ethnic differences not mainstreamed, why not religion and beliefs, why not age, class etc.? Where do you start, where do you end? Are we ready for an integrated approach instead of isolating one issue?

Best regards

Pay Drechsel

IWMI Ghana