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Integrating Gender Resettlement and Rehabilitation

Day 5 Training Week

March 6, 2009

Maria C.J. Cruz

AFTCS

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Outline

Why is gender an issue in R&R? How does gender apply to OP4.12? How were gender issues addressed in a

hydropower project in Sierra Leone? What are the lessons learned? What are the good practices? What are the key entry points for gender

in resettlement?

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Why is gender an issue in R&R?

Economic and social dislocation often exacerbate existing gender inequalities

Lack of land ownership and property rights denies women access to compensation

Restoration of livelihood and income is equally important to women and men

– Loss of access to traditional sources of livelihood increases women’s dependence on men

– Women’s low levels of education limit their options Women’s burden for providing water and fuel may increase Restricted mobility reduces women’s ability to adjust Nutritional status of women is lower than men’s; mortality and

morbidity are higher Gender-based violence increases with economic and social

stress

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How does gender apply to OP4.12?

OP4.12 Involuntary Resettlement Acquisition of land and physical structures Physical relocation Economic rehabilitation of displaced persons

Gender Aspects: Vulnerable group: without special attention, women may be excluded

and exposed to greater risk of empoverishment Benefit sharing reduce gender disparities; female head of household

entitled to same benefits as male houshold head Women’s participation Fundamental in resettlement operations

because women are key to re-establishing families and livelihoods Economic contributions of women Baseline surveys of PAPs should

document women’s roles in farming, marketing, other livelihood activities

Access to basic services Women should be key decision makers in deciding how services are allocated and maintained

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How were gender issues addressed in the Sierra Leone Bumbuna Hydroelectric Project?

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Gender issues and project response

Gender issues Demographic – 58% females Post-conflict context (change in gender and age structure) Poor governance (lack of women leaders) Weak legal and political support for women’s rights (Chiefdom system) MDG indicators for women (fertility rates high; infant and maternal mortality

high; education low)

How the project addressed these issues: Consultations included women and youth Farmer Field Schools (composed of 52% women) Formation of village committees (at least 50% women) Agribusiness Units (65% women) Life skills training (special programs for women) Money management workshops (60% women) Small-scale agribusiness development (42% women) Women participated in allocation of food packages

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What are the lessons learned?

Weak baseline (new baseline with panel survey)

Initial focus was limited to women’s health and education (focus later on livelihoods)

Decision making did not include women (village committees reorganized; women village leaders identified)

Original project outcome indicators did not include women (revised to reflect gender roles)

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What are the good practices?

Formation of village women’s committees

Operating and maintaining services handled by women

Farmer Field Schools focused on women’s roles

Special agricultural business units for women

Marketing location and access based on women’s needs

Life skills program linked with women’s livelihood

Women self-help groups formed Participatory monitoring and

evaluation led by women’s groups

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Key entry points for gender in R&R

Collect sex-disaggregated baseline data in assessment of impact, vulnerability, and risk

Consult with women as well as men affected by project regarding needs and priorities at all stages

Include provisions to give women legal rights to land and property Compensate women and men directly through individual bank

accounts. Ensure that women as well as men participate in resettlement action

planning (site selection, housing, infrastructure, basic services etc.), implementation and monitoring

Collaborate with and build the capacity of women’s NGOs to assist in resettlement planning and livelihood restoration

Strengthen the gender awareness and capacity of the implementing agency

Include gender-specific monitoring and evaluation questions and indicators