Sanitation Promotion (SIDA - SDC - WSSCC - WHO, 1998, 292 p.): Promotion through better programmes: Checklist: Gender checklist for planning sanitation projects

Sanitation Promotion (SIDA - SDC - WSSCC - WHO, 1998, 292 p.)

Promotion through better programmes

Checklist

		Checklist for planning better sanitation projects - WSSCC Working Group on Promotion of Sanitation
		Checklist for planning sanitation in emergency situations - Mayling Simpson-Hebert1
		Checklist for planning hygiene behaviour-change in sanitation projects - Mayling Simpson-Hebert1 and Sara Wood2
		Gender checklist for planning sanitation projects - Angela Hayden1

Gender checklist for planning sanitation projects - Angela Hayden1

¹ Independent consultant, Geneva, Switzerland.

This checklist has been developed as a starting point for gathering data on gender issues in sanitation projects. The answers to these questions will show you where there are obstacles to be avoided or overcome, and where there are opportunities for making the sanitation project more successful.

Try to make certain that the people using the checklist have been trained in gender issues or are at least aware of what an appropriate gender approach is. If you feel those using the checklists lack experience in gender issues, try to organize training. If possible, find a gender specialist to help you. Gender specialists can be sought in government departments, universities and training institutions.

Basic Questions

The basic questions to answer at each stage of the sanitation project are:

· How can men participate?
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· How can women participate?
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· How can women and men together participate?
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· What skills and capacities do they need?
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· How can men benefit?
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· How can women benefit?
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· How can women and men benefit together?
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Institutional background

· Are gender specialists included in the project staff?	Yes	No
If not, arrange training to sensitize staff to gender issues.
· Is there an official government policy on gender issues?	Yes	No
If there is, find out about it and see how it can be used to enhance the sanitation programme.
· Is there a government agency or ministry specifically concerned with gender issues?	Yes	No
If so, write down its name and make contact.
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· Can the local government agency responsible for sanitation offer training or experience in gender issues?	Yes	No
If it can, see whether sanitation project staff can benefit from such training or experience.
· Are there organizations, particularly women's organizations, involved in sanitation or related activities?	Yes	No
If there are, write down their names and contact them to see whether they can be of help.
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· Can lessons be learned from the experience of the ministry, local government agency or voluntary organizations (especially women's organizations)?	Yes	No
Review that experience and see if you can pick up any useful tips.
· Are voluntary organizations (particularly women's organizations) capable of providing training?	Yes	No
If so, find out who they can train and what sort of training they can provide.
· Do women, men or both play an active role in any community organizations or committees concerned with sanitation?
Try to find out if they attend meetings and if they speak at meetings.
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Project area sanitation facilities

· Where do men defecate?
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· Where do women defecate?
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· Where do children defecate?
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· Are there any toilets?	Yes	No
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· If there are toilets, do men use them?	Yes	No
Do women use them?	Yes	No
Do children use them?	Yes	No
If men, women or children do not use them, try to find out why. ____________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________
· Were the toilets constructed by men, women or both?	Yes	No
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· Are the toilets maintained by men, women, both or no one?	Yes	No
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· Would men, women or children prefer different sanitary facilities?	Yes	No
If yes, what type of toilets would they choose?
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· Would men, women or children like to change the location of the toilets?	Yes	No
If yes, where would they like the toilets to be?

Cultural and religious factors

· In this culture, is it acceptable for men and women to share toilets?	Yes	No
· Is it acceptable for women to be seen walking to use toilets?	Yes	No
· Are the above attitudes changing?	Yes	No
· Have people seen or heard about more modern facilities and are their expectations changing?	Yes	No

Social and economic conditions

· Who is available to construct and maintain sanitary facilities (taking migratory patterns into account)?	Yes	No
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· Are there large numbers of female-headed households?	Yes	No
If so, can the women who are heads of households get involved in constructing or maintaining the toilets, or in promoting their use?
· Are there significant economic differences among the target population?	Yes	No
If there are big differences, how can you make sure that all the different groups get involved in the sanitation programme?
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· Can women make decisions in the household or in the community?	Yes	No
If so, how can their decision-making power be helpful in the sanitation project? If not, how can they become involved?
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Current gender roles

· Whose role (men's, women's, or both) would it be to:

pay for a latrine?	men's	women's	both
construct a latrine?	men's	women's	both
maintain a latrine?	men's	women's	both
clean a latrine?	men's	women's	both
train children to use a latrine and wash their hands?	men's	women's	both

· Could any of the above gender roles be changed?
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Women's potential for participation

· Are women interested and do they have the means and opportunity to express their interest?
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If women are uninterested, consider ways to link their concerns with sanitation.

If women lack the means and opportunity to express their interest, participatory methods can be used. These are designed to overcome these kinds of difficulties. More information on participatory approaches can be found in Participatory approaches to community empowerment.

· Are women able and willing to contribute labour or materials (in line with their traditional roles)?
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If they can, try to ensure that the sanitation project is designed to make use of their potential.

· If women have the time, skills, or willingness do they contribute to:

decision-making?	Yes	No
construction?	Yes	No
communication?	Yes	No
hygiene education?	Yes	No
monitoring and evaluation, including establishing project indicators?	Yes	No
Does this vary by season?	Yes	No
If they lack skills, can training be provided?	Yes	No
· Have women a special interest in sanitation projects, for example because of using humus for gardening?	Yes	No
Make a list of any particular interests and explore how these interests could motivate women to participate in the sanitation project.
· Are women aware of the health benefits of improved sanitation and hygiene practices?	Yes	No
If not, what sorts of activities or materials would be best for increasing their awareness? How could the group work together to identify what their health education needs are?
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Men's potential for participation

· Can men contribute labour or materials (do they go away from the home for long periods to work)?		Yes	No
Make sure that the sanitation project takes account of their availability.
· Do men have the time or skills to enable them to contribute to:		Yes	No
	decision-making?	Yes	No
	construction?	Yes	No
	communication?	Yes	No
	hygiene education?	Yes	No
	monitoring and evaluation, including establishing project indicators for measuring gender sensitivity?	Yes	No
	If they lack skills, can training be provided?	Yes	No
· How can men be motivated to participate in the sanitation project?
Perhaps community leaders can set an example.
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· Are men aware of the health benefits of improved sanitation and hygiene practices?		Yes	No
If not, what sorts of activities or materials would be best for increasing their awareness?
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· How can men be sensitized to what women perceive as the sanitation priorities?
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References consulted

Hannan-Andersson C. Ways of involving women in water projects. Waterlines, July 1985, 4(1):28-31.

Perrett HE. Involving women in sanitation projects. Washington, DC, Technology Advisory Group (TAG), United Nations Development Programme (World Bank, Washington, DC), 1985 (TAG Discussion Paper No. 3).

Wakeman W. Gender issues sourcebook for water and sanitation projects. Washington, DC, UNDP/World Bank Water and Sanitation Program/PROWWESS (World Bank, Washington, DC), January 1995.

Wakeman W et al. Sourcebook for gender issues at the policy level in the water and sanitation sector. Washington, DC, UNDP/World Bank Water and Sanitation Program, Water Supply and Sanitation Collaborative Council, October 1996.