Rural women’s participation in decisions on drinking water

Problems

Tajikistan is located in a headwaters region where water is abundant. Almost 50% of all water resources in Central Asia are formed here.

During Soviet times, the following three types of water supply systems were created in the republic:

1. Water is taken from rivers and supplied by one or more pumping stations to tanks/reservoirs, from which water is delivered to houses by gravity pipelines;
2. Water is collected from artesian springs by one or more boreholes, then the water is pumped into tanks/reservoirs or water towers and delivered to homes by gravity pipelines. Such systems are mainly used in the densely populated valleys and cotton-growing areas of the Khatlon region;
3. In mountainous areas, a gravity water supply system is more applicable, which takes water directly from a mountain river or natural spring.

In systems that draw water from artesian wells or from mountain rivers and springs, the water must be chlorinated in order to guarantee water quality and keep the pipes clean. As for systems that take water from rivers, water chlorination is necessary in order to avoid outbreaks and epidemics of diseases transmitted by poor-quality water.

The civil war in the early 1990s caused many problems for Tajikistan. This is especially true for the supply of drinking water to the population throughout the republic and in particular in its rural areas. After independence, existing water supply systems deteriorated due to lack of funds to maintain them due to the economic crisis and the end of government subsidies.

Currently, only 22% of the rural population and 65% of the urban population have access to clean drinking water from the piped system.

The current situation in the republic creates many problems for both women and men. The lack of jobs has caused the male population to migrate from most rural areas to Russia and Kazakhstan in search of work. As a result, more than 60% of households are now headed by women. The remainder of the men retain leading roles in local governments and various organizations. Their connections, positions, and better knowledge of laws and regulations give them more advantages over women. And women, in turn, bear great responsibility for the well-being of their families. Therefore, on their shoulders lies not only caring for children, cooking and housekeeping, but also delivering water to the house, which has become one of the most difficult responsibilities for them. The distance to a water source or well sometimes reaches more than 5 kilometers. In order to bring water to the house, women and children are forced to walk to its source for at least 2 hours and stand in line for another hour.

Many women collect water from irrigation canals, which are often contaminated with fertilizers and chemicals.

Lack of access to water sources prevents women from participating in economic and political activities. This, in turn, negatively affects the level of family income, the quality of education of children and the social status of women themselves.

Project/program

The project “Participation of rural women in decision-making on the use of drinking water” was implemented by non-governmental organizations NGOs “PARASTOR”, “Khamdilon”, “Zan va Zamin” with the support of the World Bank in two rural districts of Khatlon region: Temurmalik and Beshkent, where the population is in dire need of drinking water.

The project is aimed at improving the living conditions of the rural population in 15 kishlaks (communities), numbering more than 23,000 people.

The project had to complete the following tasks:

• reconstruction of pumping stations;
• installation of hand pumps;
• construction and restoration of tanks/reservoirs and water intake structures;
• conducting educational programs and raising public awareness about ways to reduce the incidence of illness associated with waterborne diseases;
• involving rural women in the decision-making process.

To achieve the goals and objectives of the project, the following activities were carried out step by step:

• An analysis of the situation was carried out, a map of the project area was drawn up, contacts were established with the local administration, self-government bodies - mahallas and jamoats (a mahalla in villages consists of 130-200 households, a jamoat unites approximately 3-15 mahallas);
• A survey was conducted to determine the needs and requirements of beneficiaries;
• Public water committees have been established in villages, which are responsible for managing and maintaining water supply systems.

NGO "PARASTOR" carried out tasks in the project to improve the skills and knowledge of rural women, so that they, on an equal basis with men, could participate in the work of village public water committees when considering the needs of communities and making decisions.

Role/importance of initiative

The gender approach is the relationship between the sexes, and not the exclusion of one or another group of the population on the basis of gender. Addressing issues through a gender approach has a direct impact on the living conditions of women and men by providing better access to clean water. Governance cannot be sustainable when one half of the population is ignored. It is important that both men and women participate equally in the creation and management of water supply systems. Then the whole society will benefit.

The findings of the gender analysis in the 15 villages studied show that men and women experience poverty differently. Sixty percent of families in these villages are headed by women. This is due to the civil war and labor migration. These women have more personal freedom, greater flexibility in choosing better-paying jobs, the right to control the family budget, and they are not subject to physical or emotional violence. However, they face greater difficulties than men in the labor market, obtaining credit and accessing basic services. Male heads of families have greater access to resources such as land and drinking water due to local traditions and mentality.

Both men and women are often forced to fight for access to a water source. A survey in the village of Kushkiya showed that out of 2,500 families, those 60% of families where a man is the head of the family have better access to water supply. 60% of these families have running water at home. Another source of clean water here are three springs, which are located at a distance of 5-8 km from the village. In winter and at night, it is dangerous for women to go there for water. Therefore, men have more opportunities to obtain clean drinking water. Traditionally, women bear more of the burden of raising children, educating them, and caring for the health of their families. The survey showed that mainly women (70%) and girls (20%) are engaged in extracting water and delivering it home. As a result, the quality of life in families deteriorates.

The greater vulnerability of women and their lower earnings in unskilled work are causing the feminization of poverty in rural areas.

Results

Surveys

Taking into account the recommendations and opinions of stakeholders, the project specialists developed two questionnaires to determine:

• The capacity of beneficiaries (women and men) in all villages of Timurmalik and Beshkent districts;
• Understanding the gender approach and its leading role.

Interviews and conversations with men and women were conducted, contacts were established with jamoats (the name of local communities) in order to collect quality information to assess rural communities and determine their needs and priorities.

Mini studies were conducted among 1250 people to determine:

• barriers and restrictions that prevent women's participation;
• the role of men in promoting equal participation;
• target population group that promotes change in the rural community through
• use of water resources;
• needs and needs in the villages.

Water committees:

As a result of negotiations with stakeholders, public water committees were created in each village. Initially, only one woman was included in these committees out of a total of 10-12 members. After conducting trainings and organizing round tables within the framework of the project, the number of women on these committees increased by 2-3 times.

Seminars and trainings:

• To conduct the seminars, 3 training modules were developed using simple and understandable diagrams and graphs, with photographs of the real situation on the ground.
• Seminars were held on the topic “Gender and Water” in 15 villages/communities (6 courses in total) for women, men and mixed groups of listeners.
• 2 trainings were conducted for water committees on resolving conflicts related to water use and water resource management.

500 people (including 345 women) took part in these trainings.

Activities carried out by non-governmental organizations (NGOs) (trainings, seminars and meetings with village residents) increased public awareness and contributed to the adoption of adequate decisions.

Public Relations:

• The activities of project workers related to the publication of articles and other information about the progress of the project in the local newspapers “Charkhi Gardun”, “Khalk Ovozi”, and “Minbari Khalk” have been improved;
• Television and radio programs based on real life examples on the topic “Gender and Water” were prepared and conducted;

Real actions and events:

• Funds have been organized in all 15 public water committees, the funds of which are used for the repair of pumps and pumping stations. By decision of the committees, accounting and reporting on the use of these funds was entrusted to women who successfully organized this work;
• In the villages, Hashars (voluntary participation in public works by all residents) are held with the participation of men and women to clean water pipes, tanks, restore bridges and build toilets. For example, in the Chagatai mahalla, Mrs. Tursunoy Isamitdinova organized a hoshar for laying water pipes. Another example is the hoshar in the Shabonag mahalla, where a tank was cleaned by hand through joint efforts;
• The Water Committee in the village of Chilcha built toilets in 3 schools;
• To conduct the training, the water committee in the village of Shibonai organized 6 groups of students. In each group, the training was conducted by a woman. They monitor the sanitary conditions of water sources and toilets;
• Residents of the village of Shibonai suffered from frequent cases of malaria. The main source of this disease was a drainage system overgrown with vegetation. The rural community decided to clean up this sewer and thereby prevent the spread of malaria. To this end, the public water committee, together with its woman leader and religious leaders, ordered an excavator, collected funds to pay the excavator operator, and the women took turns preparing hot meals for the excavator operator. Now the public water committee ensures the proper maintenance and operation of this drainage sewer.
• Residents of the villages of Shibonai and Khalkaer submitted proposals to the OXFAM office to receive a grant for conducting mini-projects on the topic “Participation of rural women in decision-making on the use of drinking water.” The action analysis showed that equal participation of women as the main water users in water supply and water management, as well as community mobilization and establishment of procedures for the further operation and monitoring of water supply systems will strengthen and strengthen the role of women in their communities. Increasing the knowledge of rural women about family and personal hygiene will help ensure a healthy lifestyle for both their families and the entire rural population as a whole.

Rationality of strategy

The OXFAM office monitored the implementation of the project and assessed the rationality of the approach used. Project progress was reviewed monthly at office meetings.

NPO "PARASTOR" provided information on the progress of the project and during the discussions, the correct strategy and approach to the project was determined.

Key Success Factors

• Equal participation in seminars by women and men, rich and poor, as well as religious leaders. Knowledge gained from the workshops, experiences from other rural communities and information booklets helped change behavior;
• The Learn by Doing method, based on photographs, charts and graphs, changed men's views regarding women's participation in water use and management;
• Women's awareness that their participation is necessary in the management of water resources at the local level;
• Achieving mutual understanding between women and men at the local community level;
• Equal participation of women and men, rich and poor, as well as religious leaders in the decision-making process at the local community level;
• Dissemination of information and experience gained through the media;
• Community water committees mobilize local residents to resolve problems related to the supply and use of drinking water.

Main obstacles

The project was negatively impacted by the persistence of stereotypes and mentality. In rural mahallas, such stereotypes as “the purpose of an Asian woman to be a mother”, “politics and business are not women’s business”, “raising children is a mother’s function” are very common. This was noted in the questionnaires of 70% of respondents. Many women from religious families did not come to our events. Their husbands came instead. As a result, constantly emerging contradictions between gender stereotypes and roles held back the process of changing social relations between men and women during the project. To overcome this, separate training was organized for men with the participation of religious leaders.

What to do

In the future it is necessary:

• Organize training for the local population on the topic “NGOs and community”, “Development of project proposals”.
• Create an Association that will unite all established public water committees and finance local initiatives. This is the most effective form of activity at the level of rural communities to find ways of close cooperation with the city administration, with a focus on the Ministries of Education, Health, Environment, Tourism and Agriculture. For example, the Water Users Association, which was created in the Rudaki region, is a sustainable organization. This Association was created in early 2000 and it has done a lot of work in the field of water supply to rural communities.
• Community water committees must be legally registered to ensure their sustainability and to enable them to continue their activities after the end of the project.

Key points for knowledge sharing and dissemination

The impact of project activities can be demonstrated by the following table: