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Annual Report 2004 : Part 2: Poverty Reduction : Thematic Priorities
Gender and DevelopmentThe enhanced PRS reaffirmed gender equality as one of ADB’s five thematic priorities. As women comprise the bulk of the poor in the region, the pursuit of gender equality and the empowerment of women are recognized as central for poverty reduction and for achieving the MDGs. ADB continued to strengthen its overall loan portfolio addressing gender issues. Significant gender mainstreaming was evident in 38% of loans in 2004. Of these 18% (13 loans) were classified with a gender theme while 20% (15 loans) were classified with significant gender mainstreaming. A further 22% (16 loans) were classified as having some gender benefits. Loans addressing gender equality objectives were represented in all three core strategic areas of ADB operations—pro-poor, sustainable economic growth; inclusive social development; and good governance. While they tend to be concentrated in the health, education, and water supply sectors, some loans were for irrigation, rural development, agriculture and natural resources, SMEs, public resource management, and rural infrastructure. ADB also continued to improve addressing gender issues in large infrastructure projects, especially road projects. Nine loans in the transport sector included the prevention of HIV/ AIDS and trafficking of women and children in the project design. In fact, a review of 2004 loans indicates that prevention of HIV/AIDS and trafficking of women and children are becoming standard mitigation measures in ADB-supported road projects. In 2004, ADB approved the stand-alone, targeted loan project Nepal Gender Equality and Empowerment of Women to correct gender disparities and accelerate improvements in women's economic, social, and legal status. Likewise, a project in women's and children's health in Uzbekistan was approved to reduce infant and maternal mortality rates. Special features of the project include improving the status of midwives and nurses through targets in education and training, improving antenatal care, and increasing deliveries by health professionals. Other good examples of projects approved in 2004 aimed at enhancing women's access to decision making and to economic benefits include the secondary towns integrated flood protection project in Bangladesh and the communitymanaged irrigated agriculture sector project in Nepal. These loans include targets and indicators to ensure (i) women's employment in project activities, (ii) equal pay for equal work, (iii) representation in decision-making bodies, (iv) access to project resources, and (v) provision for female field staff. ADB approved a range of technical assistance projects to promote gender equality and women's empowerment. Countryspecific technical assistance focused on building the gender capacity of sector agencies to promote improved service delivery and integration of gender issues primarily in agriculture and rural development. ADB piloted a learning initiative designed to promote peer training as part of its DMC gender capacity-building efforts. A regional seminar on gender, poverty, and rural development was organized for executing agency project directors from Bangladesh, Cambodia, Indonesia, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Uzbekistan, and Viet Nam. Directors who had successful genderinclusive loan projects presented case studies describing the development of their gender action plans (GAPs) highlighting improved results and contributions to meeting project goals and achieving sustainability. Presentations by peers rather than gender specialists proved to be a powerful tool for convincing directors of the benefits and value of gender-inclusive loans. A follow-up, country-specific workshop was requested by Sri Lanka and three directors from Bangladesh were invited to present cases of gender mainstreaming in loans in rural infrastructure, water management, and education projects. ADB also organized an exchange visit between Cambodia and Viet Nam to enable four members of the Gender Working Group of the Cambodian Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries to learn how Viet Nam developed a gender strategy and plan for the agriculture sector. To obtain timely feedback and learn lessons from the implementation of ongoing loan projects, ADB conducted rapid gender assessments of three loans each in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Nepal, and Pakistan. The aim was to assess whether the introduction of project-specific GAPs had any impact on implementation, outreach, and results for women. Results were assessed in the following areas: participation in project activities; access to resources; practical benefits delivered by the project including any differences in benefits for males and females; and changes in gender relations at individual, household, or community levels. Loans reviewed were in agriculture, infrastructure, education, governance, livestock, and health. Initial findings of the assessments indicate that including GAPs in loan designs results in a more systematic approach to implementing gender mainstreaming and to improved participation and benefits for women. Building partnerships and coordinating with other development agencies was strengthened in 2004. Since both ADB and the World Bank require preparation of country gender assessments (CGAs) for CSPs, a joint CGA was prepared for Mongolia. This positive experience was replicated and broadened to include other agencies resulting in commencement of multidonor CGAs for Indonesia (Canadian International Development Agency, UNDP, World Bank), an ADB/United Nations Development Fund for Women CGA for Timor-Leste, and an ADB/World Bank CGA for the PRC. Cooperation with civil society organizations was also pursued in 2004. Activities commenced under the Gender in Water Partnership Agreement between ADB and the Gender and Water Alliance, a global network of organizations. The multidonor gender and development cooperation fund established in 2003 continued to support gender equality and women's empowerment through regional and national technical assistance projects. Twelve projects were endorsed for funding to (i) enhance gender design features in ADB loans, (ii) support innovative and strategic approaches to empower women and girls, and (iii) promote regional awareness and cooperation on gender issues. ADB began preliminary work on a review of the implementation of its gender and development policy to assess progress and effectiveness since its adoption in 1998.
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