Gender and Development

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Uzbekistan

• Thematic Classification
• Significant Gender Mainstreaming
• Some Gender Benefits

Thematic Classification

1. Small and Microfinance Development Project - Loan 1963, 9 Dec 2002

Economic hardship accompanying transition has had a negative impact on women's participation in the formal political structure and traditional gender ideologies have reemerged. Educated and entrepreneurial women use their experience to lead the women's NGO movement including the ABW(Association of Business Women) who participated in the design of the project. Initial survey indicated major subsector beneficiaries to include smallholder agricultural workers, handicraft makers, microagroprocessors, custom tailors, traders and other service providers. Over one third of beneficiaries would be women and over 20% of total loan cost will accrue to women. Women are expected to play a disproportionately active role in organizing and managing savings and credit unions(SCUs). Sensitivity of loan and savings product design will enhance women's participation. The project mandates the condition that in at least 5 of the 20 SCUs, a minimum of 50% of members would be women. The Government has also taken steps to address gender at the local level particularly the creation of women's councils within mahalla committees. Loan covenant assures that gender issues are addressed during implementation.

Significant Gender Mainstreaming

1. Urban Water Supply - Loan 1842, 2001

   Social analysis during project preparation showed that women, especially poor women, are particularly disadvantaged by water supply deficiencies in the 3 project cities, and should benefit substantially from provision of safe, continuous drinking water. Project includes public health awareness campaign to be run by women, and consumer rights and water conservation programs to be implemented with NGO and CBO support; project implementation units in each project city will set up consumer committees, including representatives from city women's committees, to participate in project implementation; selection criteria for participating NGOs include evidence of involvement with women. Loan covenants support participation of women in community groups involved in project implementation, and opportunities for women's employment in project activities.

2. Ak Altin Agricultural Development - Loan 1833, 2001

   Rayon consultative committee (RCC) will include women representatives; social impacts of project will be monitored through collection of gender-disaggregated data, and women's participation in water user associations and training will be specifically monitored; piggy-back TA will support promotion of women's participation in RCC, project monitoring and other project activities. Women are expected to benefit from project because they have equal access to land, irrigation water and credit in the project area (though RRP also notes they are primarily involved in seasonal manual work such as cotton weeding and harvesting, where their wages are about 80% of men's). Loan covenant supports women's participation in RCC.

Some Gender Benefits

1. Western Uzbekistan Rural Water Supply Project - Loan 1903, 11 Apr 2002

   Improved living and health conditions brought about by the provision of potable water supply, sanitation and improved personal hygiene will benefit 700,000 of the rural population in Karakalpalstan and Khorezm. Women are target beneficiaries of the project and will be involved in various project activities such as water conservation and public health awareness. Loan covenant requires involvement of CBOs and NGOs to ensure women's participation in various project implementation activities. Improved pit latrines in selected village centers will be constructed in consultation with women's commitees. A community development specialist in the PIUs will ensure that women and the poor are fully involved

2. Education Sector Development Program Program Loan - Loan 1960, 22 Nov 2002

Poverty reduction mechanisms are integrated in the investment project through school-based interventions that include school rehabilitation program and community initiatives for education. Women comprise 75% of school teachers but remain underrepresented in upper-level staff categories and this is reflected in the policy matrix. The Government will encourage the professional development of qualified women and this will be reflected by an increase in the proportion of women assuming leadership and management positions in the education sector.

3. Education Sector Development Program (ESDP) Investment Loan - Loan 1961, 22 Nov 2002

Augmenting teacher opportunities for further training and career development will principally benefit rural teachers especially women who have little access to the formal in-service training system.Improving teachers' status and service conditions reforming the career development system, and expanding in-service training opportunities will encourage a more balanced gender representation in the profession. Loan covenant requires 70% of total beneficiaries trained under the project will be women.

4. Senior Secondary Education - Loan 1737, 2000

   The Project provides equitable access to senior secondary education for girls and boys; equitable access to short and long-term international training for female teachers; pilot distance education for both female teachers and those serving in remote areas; and training for text book authors on techniques for presenting gender roles and issues.

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