Gender and Development

Bangladesh: Gender Capacity Building in Water Sector

Background & Rationale

In Bangladesh, ADB has achieved significant progress in enhancing the Executing Agencies' (EA) understanding, recognition, and involvement in addressing gender-based needs through investment projects. The Bangladesh Resident Mission (BRM) has been a partner in monitoring and providing technical support to develop Gender Action Plans (GAPs) and ensure implementation of gender mainstreaming activities. It has also provided opportunities to share lessons learned by exchanging ideas and experiences between projects with similar features and activities.

Expected Outcome

The overall goal of the project is to improve the capacity of the EAs to address gender issues at the field level. The specific objectives are to: (a) develop the capacity of the Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB) to implement and monitor its Gender Strategy and activities through workshops and training; and (ii) document the achievements in gender mainstreaming in BWDB's activities for possible up-scaling. Activities will include: (i) recruitment of a consultant to assist BWDB to prepare action plans to implement its gender strategy, conduct trainings and documentation of lessons learnt; (b) periodic workshops among BWDB officials to share lessons in mainstreaming gender; (c) project/sector assessments to contribute to results monitoring; (d) preparation of case-studies from lessons of selected projects; and (e) workshop to share lessons with a broad range of stakeholders including government, NGOs and development partners.

Results to Date

Among other achievements, the subproject improved the capacity of executing and implementing agencies to address gender issues in project activities and to implement and monitor project GAPs. It increased executing and implementing agency staff awareness and understanding of gender issues in relation to the water sector and flood protection work. It also facilitated the sharing of good practices from Sri Lanka and Nepal in gender mainstreaming in water supply, sanitation, and water management.