Message 23: Elizabeth Zachariah

Answering some questions:

Why is it important to mainstream a gender perspective in AWM?

1. Women tend to follow traditional / conventional practices, like using farm manure instead of chemicals. Since women manage animals they can manage this as well.

2. Women are more receptive to demonstrated modules whereas men tend to be money conscious – i.e. they weigh the immediate profits more than the long term impacts and efficacy.

3. Women are more conservative minded and do not seem to waste so much as men do. E.g. when water is available men tend to irrigate lavishly; in fact much more than needed

These have been observed directly and indirectly [by other’s stated observation] in a number of projects in India and Bangladesh. I have heard this being said about situations in Philippines and Sri Lanka as well.

What are the real issues that challenge the integration of gender concerns into WM&A?

Lip-service and compliance for the sake of securing projects. Absolute lack of commitment. There are more than enough cases in existence everywhere.

Shortage of time. Existing gender situations have existed for generations and we always seek to change all these with 3-5 years usually, and another 10 years to correct the anomalies leading to almost nothing.

It is not just a few things that need changing – usually it is to increase women’s participation in meetings / committees, etc – but their mere presence has proved to be grossly inadequate.

Women’s exposure to many things and aspects are inadequate – they need training and to be made aware about several issues. Usually trainings are one time and or, slipshod activities. Most projects conduct training to tick off some numbers which hardly serves any purpose.

Nothing works like success, it is said. Always strive to establish a [small-scaled, manageable] model and let people learn from all this. Let them make their analysis, their criticisms, suggestions, changes, etc. All these should be encouraged and solicited. And get the group to plan an improved model. Models can keep changing / improving and should incorporate a fair degree of flexibility.

There should be technical support readily available.

There should be provision for experiments and trials.

There should be a sense of [planned] risk taking which should enable innovativeness.

This sort of activity has many advantages – for both beneficiaries and implementers [and many others probably]

Why gender is not mainstreamed in WMA?

As above, lack of commitment. Governments may or may not be committed. Commitment from project staff is important – this should no be limited to keep a job alone, which is what gender is becoming to be!

No idea about the importance and usefulness of gender integration – usually only the gender specialist has this sense, but even here it also seems to be for the job and not for gender’s sake.

Lack of support from team / project itself / governments

Lack of funds were gender is concerned [plenty available for other issues]

Tendency to dump any thing gender [read women / female] on the specialists table – the “doesn’t-concern-me” attitude.

Dr. Elizabeth Zachariah

Shalome, PHED Road,

Calicut, Kerala,

India