News and Events

Regional Seminar: Gender, Poverty and Infrastructure

The Seminar will focus on integrating gender issues in the implementation of ongoing projects in the following sectors: (i) rural and urban infrastructure, (ii) water supply and sanitation, (iii) water resources management, (iv) transport, and (v) energy

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The objectives of the Seminar are to: (i) showcase gender inclusive ADB loan projects currently achieving results, and (ii) build the gender and development capacity of project staff implementing ADB-financed loan projects.

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Technical skills in developing and implementing project-specific Gender Action Plans and feature case studies of good practices will be improved

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55 participants (34 men and 21 women) from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Canada, Indonesia, the Kyrgyz Republic, Mongolia, Nepal, Norway, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Uzbekistan, and Viet Nam, as well as from RSGS attended.

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Ferdousi Sultana, Social Development & Gender Officer, ADB Bangladesh Resident Mission talks with the stakeholders of the Small Scale Water and Urban Infrastructure Projects during the field visit.		Delegates from Cambodia, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka discuss their presentations at the plenary session

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The presentations, discussions and other activities lead to the following conclusions:

• Infrastructure projects can certainly reduce poverty and gender inequality because poverty often has a "woman's face". However, projects can also have negative impacts on poor men and women;
• There is no uniform approach for successful gender mainstreaming as contexts and projects vary. Key elements include adopting holistic approaches and proper sequencing of the preparation and implementation of a gender-inclusive project design and Gender Action Plan;
• Achieving results from gender mainstreaming in infrastructure projects is not easy because of poor women's time and mobility constraints, capture of benefits by elites, lack of awareness of decision-makers, and men's control over resources;
• Gender Action Plan is a proven tool for effective gender mainstreaming. It identifies specific targets, activities and resources to ensure women will participate in and benefit from infrastructure projects.

At the end of the event participants indicated that the Regional Seminar provided them with increased motivation and knowledge to incorporate gender issues in their ongoing and future projects to improve the effectiveness and sustainability of infrastructure development programs.