Gender and Development

Bangladesh

Khulna-Jessore Drainage Rehabilitation Project

In 1993, drainage congestion was affecting 30,900 hectares of agricultural land in the Khulna-Jessore area of Bangladesh. Food production was dropping, as were income and employment opportunities. The result was severe hardship for the population: 75 percent were living below the poverty level.

Thus involvement of beneficiaries, including women, in the design, and operation and maintenance activities of the Khulna-Jessore Drainage Rehabilitation Project was seen as key to ensuring the success and sustainability of the drainage rehabilitation works. Water management and user groups were established, and special mechanisms were built into the design to ensure the full involvement of women. The Water Management Association Plan included a detailed plan of action to mobilize, involve, and ensure the active participation of women in these groups, the People's Forum, and the operation and maintenance activities of the project. Local nongovernment organizations were engaged to mobilize, train, and empower women to participate equally with men in the water management and user groups. Bylaws were passed to provide for their representation, as well as that of other disadvantaged groups. Provision was also made to contract societies of landless women for some of the construction work.

In particular, women were actively involved in the agriculture and fisheries management component of the project. The plan of action ensured that women benefited from all of the agriculture programs offered, and were fully involved in monitoring the progress of these. Traditionally women have played a significant role in food production for family consumption and for food markets, but in the past they were often not targeted as recipients or users of services provided by research and training institutes. In this project, the focus has been on training women to participate effectively in agriculture programs, particularly in farming operations such as homestead gardening, integrated pest management, agricultural extension, and nutritional awareness. Provision was also made to hire and train female workers.