Regional Workshop on Mainstreaming Gender Equality in Infrastructure Projects and Policies
Africa Regional Workshop
MDB-Sponsored Regional Workshops to Mainstream Gender Equality in Infrastructure Policies and Projects
March 22-24, 2011 - Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
The workshop focused on mainstreaming gender in infrastructure projects. It was a part of a regional series sponsored by the Multilateral Development Banks Gender Working Group, that seeks to promote the third Millennium Development Goal (Promote Gender Equality and Empower Women).* It brought together development practitioners from the public and private sectors, government agencies and academia, to build practical, hands-on skills for mainstreaming gender in the entire project cycle. There were over 130 participants, with 80 from African countries and 20 from MDBs and development partners. The format allowed participants to share knowledge and best practices for mainstreaming gender in infrastructure projects across the world, and addressed real-time issues, such as client needs in light of the current international economic crisis. Please scroll down and click agenda tab to see presentation materials from the workshop.
develop the capacity of MDBs’ and client country staff to mainstream gender in infrastructure operations throughout the project cycle, including results monitoring and evaluation;
introduce the participants to different analytical tools to mainstream gender in infrastructure projects and sectors;
share knowledge and experiences on gender equality in infrastructure projects;
promote gender equality in infrastructure policies, programs and projects, which are key national priorities and represent a substantial share of international and bilateral development assistance;
develop a common platform of work across MDBs; and
Identify key entry points for policy dialogue.
By mainstreaming gender in infrastructure projects, the ultimate aim is to::
(i) Foster equal participation of women and men in infrastructure projects design, implementation and equal sharing of benefits;
(ii) Ensure that women’s needs as well as men’s needs for infrastructure services are taken into account; and
(iii) Ensure women’s economic empowerment, through equal access to (a) the infrastructure labor and other markets and (b) the opportunity to create enterprises directly or indirectly related to infrastructure investments and development, including having women-owned enterprises participate fairly in bidding for works and services.
The main sectors covered by the workshop were: Energy, Transport, Water and Sanitation, and Irrigation.
The first workshop in this series took place in Manila in the Philippines, in November 2008, under the joint leadership of the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank. The second was held in Lima in December 2009, under the joint leadership of the World Bank and the Inter-American Development Bank, with the co-sponsorship of the Caribbean Development Bank.
The workshop was designed to give participants the opportunity to learn from successful projects – in the Africa Region, in Latin America, Asia, and Central Europe. The projects which were highlighted focused upon key infrastructure sectors, and there were brainstorming sessions on how participants may integrate best gender practice into their own activities, and to establish a common platform moving forward.
The workshop was sequentially structured as follows:
Module 1 (Plenary 1): Understanding the macro-perspective: Emerging Consensus on Gender and Development: Institutional Perspectives
Module 2 (Plenaries 2 and 3, and simultaneous parallel sessions): Understanding the sector perspectives and learning from experience: Engendering Infrastructure Sectors in Africa: Issues, Challenges, and Good and Innovative Practices in:
Transport-related Infrastructure Policies and Projects;
Energy-related Infrastructure Policies and Projects;
Water and Sanitation Policies and Projects; and
Irrigation Projects Policies and Projects.
Module 3 (Plenaries 4, 5, 6 and Working Groups): The means, tools, and risks to achieve results.Tools for Mainstreaming Gender in Infrastructure Sectors Policies and Projects and Managing Risks
Module 4 (Plenaries 7 and 8): The macro and sector frameworks and good practices to measure results and impacts: Monitoring Gender Equality in Infrastructure Policies and Projects
Module 5 (Plenaries 9 and 10 and working groups): Committing to results and actions for mainstreaming gender into country-level infrastructure programs: Planning for Action
In light of lessons learned at the Manila and Lima workshops, senior level decision-makers from governments and development institutions were invited to participate. In addition to government officials, staff were present from implementation agencies, financing institutions, MDBs, the private sector, civil society organizations, academia, and selected donor organizations. There were more than about 130 participants, with 80 from African countries and 20 from MDBs and development partners.
The MDBs will produce a publication on Gender and Infrastructure. It will include lessons learned, case materials and details of the tools developed as a result of the workshops. In addition, the documentation will be posted on the websites of sponsoring institutions.
* The Multilateral Development Bank Gender Working Group was set up in 2001 with the aim of strengthening information sharing and collaboration among Multilateral Development Banks on gender equality in operations. Members include the Asian Development Bank, the African Development, Inter-American Development Bank, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, and the World Bank.
Mr. Ibrahima Dia - Coordinator, AfDB-ECA-AUC Joint Secretariat Support Office, AfDB
Keynote Address:
Ato Ahmed Shide, State Minister of Finance and Economic Development, Ethiopia
Q & A
10:30 - 11:45
Plenary 1- Emerging Consensus on Gender and Development: Institutional Perspective
Chair: Ms. Shireen Lateef, ADB
Gender and Economic Development and Mainstreaming Gender in Infrastructure: the World Bank Perspective and Lessons Learned Speaker: Ms. Mayra Buvinic, Director, Gender and Development Group, World Bank
Gender and Economic Development: The African Development Bank Perspective (French) Speaker: Ms. Yeshiareg Dejene, Chief Gender Expert and OIC, Gender and Social Development Monitoring Division, AfDB
Overview of issues and challenges associated with Gender and Infrastructure in Africa Speaker: Mr. Jamal Saghir, Director for Sustainable Development, Africa Region, World Bank (Video)
11:45 - 12:00
Coffee Break
12:00 - 13:30
Plenary 2 (a) – Promoting Gender Equality in Infrastructure Sectors in Africa: Issues, Challenges, and Good and Innovative Practices
Chair: Ms. Thokozile Ruzvidzo, Director, African Center for Gender and Social Development, ECA
Shining the light on the Poor and Women (French PDF 1015KB) | Video Speaker: Mr. Raihan Elahi, Senior Energy Specialist, World Bank, Addis Ababa, on behalf of Mr. Anousak Phongsavath, Director, Rural Electrification Division, Department of Electricity, Ministry of Energy and Mines, Lao PDR
Chairs’ Summary and final remarks on the plenary session.
15:30 - 16:30
Simultaneous Sector Sessions: Policy and Institutional Frameworks and Lessons from Operational Experience on Gender Mainstreaming in Infrastructure
Session 1: Designing Transport-related Infrastructure Policies and Projects through the Gender Lens: Issues, Challenges, and Good and Innovative Practices
Chair: Mr. George Banjo, Sr. Transport specialist, World Bank
Session 2: Opportunities for Gender Equality in Energy-related Infrastructure Projects and Policies: Issues, Challenges, and Good and Innovative Practices
Chair: Mr. Kurt Longsway, Manager, Environment and Climate Change Division, AfDB
Case Study I: The Experience of the AFREA Gender Mainstreaming Program and Learning from Tanzania (PPT 1942KB) Speakers: Ms. Awa Seck, Sr. Energy Specialist, World Bank (PDF 1200KB) | (French PDF 845KB) Ms. Grace Mathew, Rural Energy Agency,Tanzania (PDF 714KB) (French PDF 586KB)
Case Study II: Mainstreaming Gender in Energy Utilities: Facing Gender Issues in the Kenya Power and Lighting CompanySpeaker: Ms. Agnes Mwangi Obara, Planning Officer & Member, Gender Committee,KPLC, Kenya,
Session 3: Social and Economic Opportunities for Mainstreaming Gender Equality in Water and Sanitation-related Infrastructure Policies and Projects: Issues, Challenges, Good and Innovative Practices
Chair: Ms. Asa Torkelsson, Sr. Gender Specialist, Water Sector, World Bank, Nairobi
Session 4: The Critical Importance for Food Security and Income Growth of Mainstreaming Gender Equality in Irrigated Agricultural Policies and Projects: issues, Challenges, Good and Innovative Practices
Chair: Mr. H. Dosso, Agronomist, Ethiopia Field Office, AfDB
Case Study I: Gender Equality in Irrigated Agriculture in Ecuador (Video)Introductory Remarks: Ms. Barbara Van Koppen, IWMI
Working Groups Eight working groups will be formed, two per sector. Four groups will be asked to identify key gender issues, challenges and gaps and how policies have promoted or hindered gender mainstream into the respective sectors with specific country examples. Four groups will be asked to share project experience and identify factors which have facilitated or hindered gender mainstreaming.
Knowledge Exchange and Project Fair Laying out the displays to provide participants with the opportunity to present projects and policy experience not included in the formal agenda. Participants will have the opportunity to visit the Fair throughout the day, at the various breaks, until the formal event in the late afternoon.
8:30 - 10:00
Plenary 3 Chair: Mr. Tom Hurley, Director, Quality Assurance and Results Department, AfDB Director
Public-Private Partnership and Gender Mainstreaming in InfrastructureThe experience of the Global Partnership on Output-Based Aid and that of PPIAF in mainstreaming the gender perspective in infrastructureSpeakers: Ms. Inga Muriaru, Senior Project Officer, GPOBA (PDF 515KB)(French PDF 1075KB) and Ms. Jacqueline Williams, National Coordinator, WOESA: Facilitating Women's Participation in Business Ventures in the Energy Sector
Q & A
11:15 - 11:30
Coffee Break (Visit to the Project Fair)
11:30 - 13:15
Group Work Groups will be formed by sector. They will be provided policy and/or project assignments and will be asked to apply the tools which have been presented. In addition, they will be asked to share their experience applying these or other tools from their respective professional perspective. The groups will be assisted by the presenters and other resource persons of Day 2 presenters.
Water Supply and Sanitation Getting Results and Applying a Systematic Monitoring Framework in Kenya and Learning from the Water Kiosks in Zambia (French PDF 918KB) Speakers: Ms. Asa Torkelsson, Gender Expert, World Bank (PDF 773KB) | Video Mrs. Theresa Wasike, Acting Undersecretary, MoWI, Kenya Mrs. Precious Simasiku, (PDF 593KB)Community Relations Officer, Southern Water and Sewage Company, Zambia (French PDF 1237KB) | Video
Plenary 9 - Planning for Action Chair and Introductory remarks: Ms. Sabine Guertner, Gender Program Manager, GIZ
9:45 - 11:00
Working Groups Applying the Results Framework, and Developing Sector Action Plans Participants will be grouped in teams by country or by regional grouping teams; each team will include the sectors represented. They will be asked to identify both the action-program they choose to work with based on the Knowledge from the workshop, the country, sector, and project indicators that they will work with upon return to their home country after the workshop.
11:30 - 11:45
Coffee Break
11:45 - 12:30
Plenary 10 - Presentation of Working Group Action Plans
Chair: Mrs. Pierrella Paci, Sector Manager, Gender and Development Group, World Bank
Co-chairs: Ms. Mayra Buvinic, Director, Gender and Development Group, World Bank and Mr. Tom Hurley, Director, Quality Assurance and Results Department, AfDB
Participants’ feedback on the Workshop
Discussion of the next steps to advance the agenda of MDBs and other Partners in the area of Gender and Development
Concluding Remarks Mme Sabine Mueller, GIZ, Ms. Mayra Buvinic, World Bank and M. Tom Hurley, AfDB
Remarques finales Mme Sabine Mueller, GIZ, Mme Mayra Buvinic, Banque Mondiale et M. Tom Hurley, BAD
13:30
Fin de l’atelier. Photo de Groupe
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