The Decentralized Rural Infrastructure and Livelihood Project (DRILP) was designed to reduce rural poverty in 18 conflict-affected, remote hill and mountain districts to increase access to economic opportunities and social services.
Background
The Decentralized Rural Infrastructure and Livelihood Project (DRILP) was designed to reduce rural poverty in 18 conflict-affected, remote hill and mountain districts to increase access to economic opportunities and social services. The primary focus of the project is to enhance the social and financial capital of the poor, dalits, ethnic minorities and women, estimated to be 70% of the subproject area population. DRILP puts a strong emphasis on community involvement and support for livelihood restoration activities instead of just focusing on infrastructure development.
Key Points
Development Aims and Impacts:
- Rural infrastructure projects are important to poor women who are left behind in rural areas to manage their families' livelihoods due to male migration. Living in remote areas with limited roads, lack of access to resources, and low levels of human capital pose serious constraints to rural women in marketing produce, using health and education services, finding employment, obtaining clean water, collecting fodder and fuel wood, and traveling to district centers.
- Women can gain equal opportunities in project-related investments and work with equal pay in construction sites, but gender sensitization of project staff and contractors and special clauses in bidding documents are necessary to promote their employment in infrastructure projects.
- Women-only building groups, and savings and credit activities, as well as targeted training provide women with increased skills, confidence and opportunities for income generation, control of income and asset ownership to improve family livelihoods.
ADB Processes and Management Tools:
- A detailed design phase gender action plan (GAP) that addresses gender issues in all components of the project yields positive results towards the achievement of overall project objectives. If necessary, GAPs can be revised during project implementation to enhance relevance with project outcomes, outputs, and performance indicators.
- Recruitment of project-based gender specialists at all levels as part of the project implementation team ensures systematic guidance and monitoring for GAP implementation and results.
- Gender policy development at the subsector and/or institutional level as part of a project loan covenant increases long-term commitment and resource allocation by executing agencies for gender-inclusive programs and projects.
To know more about this case study, read the ADB publication titled Gender Equality Results Case Studies: Nepal.
