INPUT NEEDED - IMPROVING WATER GOVERNANCE THROUGH SOCIAL ACCOUNTABILITY

Women interested in improving access to water in their communities are encouraged to visit the online discussion on the Global Platform for Social Accountability. This is the final week of a 3 week discussion period:

http://gpsaknowledge.org/forums/topic/improving-water-governance-through...

Spending the last few days of this discussion on the topic of gender in water services. 'It is well known that women, compared to men, are disproportionately affected by the quality of water management and supply. It is also clear that the burden of fetching water and coping with unreliable water quality in many developing and middle-income countries often fall on the women of the households. Consequently, their feedback and ability to influence the way water is collectively managed and used is critical for effective and accountable service delivery. 
– But what does it mean in practice to apply a truly gendered approach to water management – one which does not just push the decision-making onto women in spaces where they have little power or possibility to act, but one which helps break unequal gender patterns through mechanisms of holding decision-makers to account?

– In other words, how, when, and under what circumstances does a gendered approach to water supply and management actually contribute to gender transformation, using social accountability as vehicle?
I’m looking forward to any views or examples out there!'

The Case Study attached is '...about how the municipal government of Santa Rosa de Copan, Honduras, gives citizens an opportunity to participate in development decision-making; in turn citizens enable the municipal governments to adopt and implement interventions such as the contributions-for-improvement which integrate their cash and free labor into necessary and appropriate social improvements programs.'

How to Get Involved

Gender Feedback to Improve Water Systems

Check out the discussion.  If you would like to post a comment or download materials available on the platform, you will need to set up a userid and password for yourself.