Gender and Development

Vietnam

Second Provincial Town Water Supply and Sanitation Project, 1997

The project contributes to poverty reduction through the provision of better water supply and sanitation facilities. Out of 405 urban centers in the project area, only 129 are served by a piped water supply system and these are mainly of poor quality. Water borne disease is widespread and accounts for 20-30 per cent of mortality and a high incidence of female reproductive tract infections.

The social assessment of the project identified that women in the project areas are primarily responsible for collecting and using water. Female headed households account for 35 per cent of total households in the project areas. Therefore, it is vital that women be involved in the design and management of the new utilities and associated public awareness/hygiene programs.

The Vietnam Women's Union (VWU) is a mass organization operating throughout Vietnam, and it became clear the organization could play a key role in the design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the urban water supply and sanitation project.

With a technical and financial assistance from the Project, the VWU has been able to involve women in all aspects of project implementation and monitoring. A VWU representative is on the project implementation team, and the organization is responsible for implementing the project's environmental and health education program, related community development activities and credit programs; as well as helping to develop the physical facilities.

Women are now gaining access to clean water and are represented in the Water User Groups established in each neighborhood. Poor families, including female-headed households, have been provided with access to credit. Women are receiving training in hygiene and sanitation and in the maintenance of facilities. It is hoped that the VWU, with its capacity to mobilize women will be able to replicate this experience in other ADB-financed projects.