Gender issues

The Gender Issues Network or GENNET has been active from 1991 to 1997. It produced a brochure with information about the meaning of gender and a gender approach in the water sector, references and some hints for application (electronic copies still available from IRC), two sourcebooks, two reports on gender and the work of the Water Supply and Sanitation Collaborative Council and four newsletters. It also developed a very rapid (10 minutes) participatory gender analysis tool which became very popular to create awareness and basic understanding of gender issues and their importance for the water sector during larger gatherings. This has also been translated into other languages. This tool is still available from IRC.

GENNET was discontinued in 1998 when the envisaged support through the WSSCC did not materialise. It has been replaced by the Gender and Water Alliance, which is active across the whole water sector: water for food (irrigation), water for nature (land and water use) and water and sanitation for people.

The Gender and Water Alliance was created during the 2nd World Water Forum as a result of gender mainstreaming being placed high on the agenda of the water sector. The Gender and Water Alliance was launched to help implement water visions. A total of 110 organisations are presently members (including members of GENNET) with IRC acting as the secretariat for the alliance. In view of synergies established at the Fourm and the international recognition received for the alliance, it has been suggested that alliance now be responsbile for mainstreaming gender within the Council's activities. This would allow coordination to be continued by IRC.

For further information contact:
Jennifer Francis,
IRC International Water and Sanitation Centre,
P.O. Box 2869, 2601,
CW,
Delft,
The Netherlands.

Tel: +31-15-219 2943
Fax: +31-15-219 0955
Email: francis@irc.nl

Last updated 23/03/01
Maintained by f.o.odhiambo@lboro.ac.uk and j.fisher1@lboro.ac.uk

See also...
Gender and domestic water supply workshop at Southampton University, UK. Contact Tina Wallace [added 09/04/01]

IWMI Training Kit on Gender and Irrigation. Email: iwm@cgiar.org [added 09.04.01]

Gender and Equity in Water Supply and Sanitation July 2001 training programme
Email: netwas@nbnet.co.ke

IRC Gender page
Launch of Gender Water Alliance at 5th Global WSSCC Forum 2000
WMI Poverty, Gender and Water Page

UNDP/WB Global Initiative on Gender and Participation

Introduction to GEN NET

Abstracts on Woman, Water and Sanitation

GEN NET update following Manila Global Forum (Jan. '98)

CGIAR Gender Research Network

World Bank Gender Home Page

Development-gender email discussion list