The Gender and Water Resource Guide has been developed by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to assist practitioners in mainstreaming gender within the context of Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM)
IWRM is a cross-sectoral policy approach to respond to the growing demands for water in the context of finite water supplies. It is based on the recognition of the inderdependence of the many different water users in a social, environmental and economic context, while identifying the potential for conflicting demands on water resources.
Gender mainstreaming is an important component of IWRM. Women and men have different and generally unequal access to water-related resources as well as different and generally unequal access to water-related decision making bodies at all levels. Power issues place women in a disadvantaged position and these differences may also be reinforced by class, race, caste, ethnicity or age.
International conferences since the beginning 1990s have highlighted the importance of applying a gender perspective to water development and management. The final declaration of the 2001 Inter-ministerial Conference on Freshwater in Bonn states that:
"Both men and women should be involved and have an equal voice in managing the sustainable use of water resources and sharing of benefits".
This followed similar statements made at the Dublin Conference on Water and Sustainable Development in 1992.
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Related links:
Gender and Water Alliance website
EPHA’s articles on water policy
