Rapid urbanization due to accelerated rural to urban migration often results in lack of basic urban services and poor environmental management. Women’s central roles in safeguarding their family’s health and sanitation, and managing solid waste are critical considerations for project success. Alternative mechanisms to municipal-elected positions, such as citizen committees, can be channels through which women can express their priorities for environmental issues and necessary urban services. While the numbers of women participants in urban and environmental improvement projects are important, care must also be taken to ensure women play leadership roles and benefit positively from project outcomes.

Timely gender action plans (GAPs) and dedicated financial and technical resources for GAP implementation create a better chance for effective gender mainstreaming in projects. Read more.