©Ana Cecilia Gonzales-Vigil / World Bank GENDER IS AN IFC INTEGRATING GENDER INTO CORPORATE PRIORITY Water & Sanitation Projects Gender is a key cross-cutting strategic theme under IFC 3.0 and is included as a part of IFC’s Only 85 percent of the world’s urban population has access to clean, capital commitments. IFC has long readily available drinking water. Even fewer people—47 percent of taken a comprehensive approach urban dwellers—have access to safely managed sanitation facilities.1 to reducing gender inequality, including supporting improved This gap in water access is expensive and unequal: poor sanitation opportunities and working affects health, productivity, and the environment, costing an conditions for female employees, estimated $260 billion annually and disproportionately affecting expanding women’s access to women and children.2 Poor sanitation increases disease, infant financial services, investing in mortality, and work and school absenteeism.3 Contaminated water innovative technology that expand and inadequate sanitation in developing countries, for example, choices for female consumers, cause roughly 675,000 premature deaths per year, mainly among and supporting business skills children,4 and also impact women as their primary caretakers. and leadership training for female entrepreneurs. This brief highlights how involving women in service design, tariff As part of its recent capital increase, structures, and the water and sanitation workforce itself not IFC has committed to: only helps cities reap the benefits of women’s greater social and • quadrupling financing for women economic engagement5 but also enhances service provision, safety, and women-led SMEs. and cost recovery.6 • increasing representation of Between 2009 and 2018, IFC invested and mobilized over $2 billion women on boards. across 55 projects in the global water and sanitation sector. Despite • more than doubling commitments these large investments, there remains a pressing need for significant to financial institutions targeting scale-up of investment.7 Achieving universal access to water and women. sanitation would improve health and productivity of individuals and • systematically integrating gender society. Every dollar invested in sanitation is estimated to return an into projects. additional $5.50 in benefits, and every dollar invested in drinking By improving how gender is water is estimated to return $2.00 in benefits.8 integrated into INR projects, IFC can further demonstrate its commitment to improving gender equality globally. Increasing Women’s Engagement in Water and Sanitation Projects Can… KEY ISSUE BUSINESS CASE FIELD EXAMPLE POTENTIAL ENTRY POINTS FOR IFC PROJECTS 9 Urban water and sanitation Including women in The mobile billing ▶ Integrate gender into the services often suffer from service design ensures intermediary CityTaps uses methodology and analysis cost recovery challenges services target their primary a pay-as-you-go model of baseline social impact and rely on government users. Understanding and to facilitate water service assessments, community subsidies to cover full responding to women’s that adapts to the needs consultations, compensation, costs. There is unmet roles in water usage and bill (and sometimes irregular participatory monitoring, and need in poorer urban payment can improve policy incomes) of lower-income grievance mechanisms. … target neighborhoods that water and pricing decisions. It can neighborhoods. Customers ▶ Ensure that community consumers, and sanitation services also better tailor design, can load mobile money consultations and consumer leading to may not reach. This can marketing, and outreach. This onto their water account, at support services target all users, increased use form a vicious cycle, as can improve levels of payment any time, for any amount, and better cost including women, minorities, improved cost recovery and economic sustainability and using any phone. This people with disabilities, and recovery could help fund needed of services, and increase user service helps utilities become individuals who are illiterate. expansion into unserved satisfaction. financially independent, Segregate meetings by gender areas. For instance, taking into enabling them to invest when appropriate. Given women’s cooking, account the financial in water infrastructure ▶ Include female beneficiaries and cleaning, and caretaking capacity and needs of women improvements that benefit 11 users in the design of services roles in many cultures, they can help utilities create poor urban residents. and tariff structures. are typically the primary affordable and practical tariff Beneficiary households of users of water within structures for users (such CityTaps’ first pilot, in Niamey, ▶ Train community engagement the household and often as allowing users to make Niger, reported a 94% staff on opportunities and responsible for paying the smaller and more frequent reduction in their water bills. challenges to integrate gender household water bill.10 payments in locations closer Ninety percent of women across activities. Despite these roles, women to home, and/or use payment and girls also reported time ▶ Consider conducting the are not always represented methods such as mobile savings: they used to spend following studies when in consultations about tariff money or smartphone apps). hours waiting for water appropriate: structure or service design. Women also have critical delivery, waiting in line at a • Study of innovative payment Water supply deficits knowledge of the best tapstand, or hauling water platforms and tariff structures often force low-income locations for public taps and back to their homes. The pilot tailored to serve the needs of households to pay much toilets to increase usage, and was conducted in partnership low-income households. higher prices for water from information about sources with SEEN, a local subsidiary of Veolia, a French • Qualitative/quantitative informal sources, not only of water contamination research to understand the exacerbating inequality but associated with sanitation. transnational water, waste, and energy management risks facing vulnerable/low- also capturing revenue income groups, including that could have been company. It later expanded in partnership with SEEN and female-headed households earned by a water supplier. (FHH) with regard to tariff, telecommunications company Orange Niger, which, as a payment, and mobility issues. result, reported increases • Mapping users from FHHs in Veolia’s customer base in the target service area, as well as in the number of to integrate this data into a subscribers.12 service user database. 1 World Bank Open Data. World Bank, 2020. “Safely managed sanitation facilities” refers to the percentage of people using improved sanitation facilities that are not shared with other households and where excreta are safely disposed of in situ or transported and treated offsite. Improved sanitation facilities include flush/pour flush to piped sewer systems, septic tanks or pit latrines: ventilated improved pit latrines, compositing toilets or pit latrines with slabs. 2 Global Costs and Benefits of Drinking-Water Supply and Sanitation Interventions to Reach the MDG Target and Universal Coverage. WHO, 2012. 3 WASH and Women. UNICEF, 2003. 4 Expanding Access to Clean Water. World Bank, 2020. 5 While the term “gender” refers to both women and men, this brief focuses on integrating a gender lens into water and sanitation projects because of the fewer benefits and higher risks women and girls face in these sectors. 6 This brief refers to urban water supply and sanitation projects as encompassed by both private and public operators of water supply and wastewater treatment. 7 IFC: A Partner for Water and Municipal Infrastructure. IFC, 2019. 8 Global Costs and Benefits of Drinking-Water Supply and Sanitation Interventions to Reach the MDG Target and Universal Coverage. WHO, 2012. 9 This document offers lists from which to choose applicable gender entry points on a case-by-case basis, depending on the needs, capacity and stage of each project. Entry points and gender interventions should be decided upon in coordination with investment, environmental, and social teams, typically as part of appraisal and supervision of projects. Careful management is important, to avoid uncoordinated messages between compliance, advisory, and capacity building. 10 Why Gender Matters in IWRM: A tutorial for water managers. CAP-NET, GWA, 2014. 11 www.citytaps.org 12 Niamey, Niger Project Update Winter 2018/19. CityTaps, 2019. Increasing Women’s Engagement in Water and Sanitation Projects Can… KEY ISSUE BUSINESS CASE FIELD EXAMPLE POTENTIAL ENTRY POINTS FOR IFC PROJECTS Frequent lack of access Inadequate water supply A World Bank study ▶ Design gender-sensitive to adequate water and analyzing the economic and sanitation is associated behavioral change sanitation has a multiplier with global economic impact of sanitation in communications that target effect on the well-being losses of approximately four countries in Southeast women to ensure that both men of low-income urban $260 billion annually.14 It Asia found that about a and women are aware of the households and their increases disease, infantquarter of workplaces in new services being introduced. social and economic Cambodia had no toilet mortality, and absenteeism … reduce ▶ Propose training/engaging progress. Because women and about 14% in the from work and school, with women as community health women’s are usually the primary women and children the Philippines had inadequate educators. barriers to caregivers and water most negatively affected.15 toilets. In Vietnam, 3% of economic managers within the home, Every dollar invested in health stations and 74% ▶ Evaluate the potential adoption and social their time and health are sanitation is estimated to of marketplaces had no of mobile payment methods engagement most negatively impacted. return $5.5 in benefits, toilet, and 11% and 13%, such as mobile money or within their and each dollar invested in respectively, had inadequate smartphone apps. communities Contaminated water and inadequate sanitation toilets. This study estimated drinking water is estimated ▶ Consider monitoring the project and cities, to return $2 in benefits.16 that if employees skipped in developing countries throughout implementation by leading to one workday per month collecting gender-disaggregated cause roughly 675,000 A study of women in Brazil broader during their menstrual period data on public health and time premature deaths a year. found that diarrhea or economic These deaths occur mainly vomiting associated with lack due to a lack of proper indicators, and their impacts. growth among children13 and thus of access to proper sanitation sanitation facilities, the impact women in particular in 2016 caused 862.7 Philippines and Vietnam as their primary caretakers. million hours of absences would suffer 13.8 and 1.5 In many societies, women away from routine activities. million workday absences are the ones who pay the The study inferred that respectively, causing an water bill despite having universal access to sanitation economic loss of $13 lower incomes than their could recuperate 72.2 million million in the Philippines husbands, perpetuating hours17 of Brazilian women’s and $1.28 million in household inequality. time annually,18 allowing Vietnam each year.19 them more time to focus on economic, educational, and social activities. 13 Expanding Access to Clean Water. World Bank, 2020. 14 What costs the world $260 billion each year? World Bank, 2013. 15 WASH and Women. UNICEF, 2003. 16 Global Costs and Benefits of Drinking-Water Supply and Sanitation Interventions to Reach the MDG Target and Universal Coverage. WHO, 2012. 17 This number would increase when also taking into account the hours recuperated due to the improvement of family members’ health from universal access, lowering the burden on women’s caregiving responsibilities. 18 Women & Sanitation. BRK Ambiental and Instituto Trata Brasil, 2019. 19 Economic impacts of sanitation in Southeast Asia: a four-country study conducted in Cambodia, Indonesia, the Philippines and Vietnam under the Economics of Sanitation Initiative (ESI). World Bank, 2008. Increasing Women’s Engagement in Water and Sanitation Projects Can… KEY ISSUE BUSINESS CASE FIELD EXAMPLE POTENTIAL ENTRY POINTS FOR IFC PROJECTS When women have to go In the state of Delhi, India, After the installation of ▶ As part of the due diligence outside to collect water or 70% of sexual assaults Sanergy’s franchised, non- process, IFC’s environmental use sanitation facilities, occur when women leave sewered Fresh Life Toilets and social department carries they are at greater risk their homes to defecate in in schools across Mukuru out a GBV risk assessment for of facing gender-based the open.20 In a study in kwa Reuben, one of Nairobi, all new projects. Infrastructure, violence (GBV), conflict, South Africa, researchers Kenya’s, biggest urban Environmental and Social, and other safety concerns. found that in one township slums, surveys reported a and Advisory teams should … improve When women have to (Khayelitsha), the cost of 20% average increase in coordinate responses to GBV safety and delay water collection increasing the number school enrollment and risks and opportunities. reduce gender- or use of sanitation of toilets, including attendance. One school head ▶ Build the service provider’s based violence facilities, this impedes their maintenance costs, would reported that a prior diarrhea capacity to assess, address, and daily activities, such as more than offset the outbreak in her school led monitor any incidents of GBV household duties or school current costs the city to seven students being within their workforce (including attendance, and can also faces from sexual assaults withdrawn by their parents. service providers) and toward lead to psychological and related to poor access to But after receiving a Fresh users of their services.25 physical damage. sanitation.21 Not only would Life toilet facility, the school’s proper sanitation reduce enrollment increased by 17%. ▶ Train service providers to The existence of a toilet recognize and address GBV. alone is not enough. To assaults and municipal Higher enrollment also helps ensure the safety, health, costs in urban areas, but increase schools’ revenue ▶ Develop systems to report and and comfort of women and women would also be safer and their ability to provide address GBV incidents within girls, sanitation provision to engage in business, and better sanitation facilities for both the workforce and the must include locks, trash in public life. their students. Another study community. bins, adequate lighting and In a Plan International survey of the program found that ▶ Work with service providers to proper access to water, with 7,000 youth respondents “pupils in schools with cleaner develop sexual harassment and be in safe locations. across four regions of the toilets were half as likely to be absent than pupils in schools policies and GBV codes of Separate facilities should world, one in four girls said conduct for all employees. be provided for females they never feel comfortable with dirtier toilets.” when possible. using school latrines.22 One The school grounds have ▶ Require adherence by study in India found that also seen a significant contractors and sub-contractors Additionally, the to the GBV codes of conduct. construction of one-quarter of girls skipped improvement since the infrastructure projects school during menstruation.23 installation of the Fresh ▶ Consider creating or often brings an influx of Life Toilets. Before their implementing awareness workers to the project installation, students at campaigns about GBV-related area, increasing risks of Reuben Baptist community risks associated with water GBV and harassment school used to defecate on collection or use of sanitation without proper oversight. the playground and nearby facilities. field during playtime; but now the playground and field are clean and safe for children to use.24 20 Toilets to provide freedom, health and dignity to women. We Are Water Foundation, 2017. 21 Reducing Sexual Violence by Increasing the Supply of Toilets in Khayelitsha, South Africa: A Mathematical Model. Gregg Gonsalves, Edward Kaplan, A. David Paltiel, 2015. 22 Infographic: End School-related Gender-based Violence. United Nations Girls’ Education Initiative, 2014. 23 Menstrual Hygiene Management among Adolescent Girls in India: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Van Eijk, A., M. Sivakami, M. Thakkar, A. Bauman, K. Laserson, S. Coates, and P. Phillips-Howard, 2016. 24 Results from the field: Fresher, healthier kids in Mukuru! Sanergy, 2013. Increasing Women’s Engagement in Water and Sanitation Projects Can… KEY ISSUE BUSINESS CASE FIELD EXAMPLE POTENTIAL ENTRY POINTS FOR IFC PROJECTS The water and sanitation Inclusion of women in Despite traditional beliefs ▶ Work with communities to sector is an overwhelmingly management of the sector that women lack technical increase participation of women male-dominated industry. not only provides women skills, women in Magelang, on local water-management A World Bank study of with more employment Java, Indonesia, recognized committees and structures. 64 water and sanitation opportunities, but it can and proposed technical ▶ Train women as local repair service providers in 28 also improve service solutions to problems in the technicians. countries around the world outcomes. Because women design of the community’s … improve ▶ Review and update HR policies found that an average of are key clients for water water system. This served service and practices to promote gender only 18% (fewer than one and sanitation service as the foundation for an operations and equality, such as: recruitment in five) of their workers providers, a more gender- overhaul of the water system, management by are women. While 23% of diverse workforce can help and women are now actively of women, equitable retention strengthening engineers and managers utilities better understand involved in its management.29 and promotion, a parent-friendly the talent in the utilities were female, and respond to the concerns work environment, and GBV and pool of service In Lava panchayat, India, sexual harassment policies. 32% of the utilities studied and needs of their female where 90% of hand providers, had no female engineers clients—which can lead pumps were not working, ▶ Establish gender equality and making them and 12% had no female to improved customer women were trained as unconscious bias training for more desirable managers.26 satisfaction. Although women all employees—and contractors, hand pump mechanics to employers. make up a small percentage when possible. meet a shortage of trained of the water and sanitation technicians. Following workforce, evidence shows ▶ Create or support leadership, the women’s training, the mentorship, and training that their inclusion makes average wait for a hand projects six to seven times opportunities, and women’s pump repair fell from more professional networks. as effective.27 than a month to under Additionally, studies have 24 hours. The program ▶ Work with educational shown that entrepreneurs helped build women’s institutions to encourage women suffer more from lack confidence and economic in the pipeline for water and of water access than independence, as well as sanitation service providers and non-entrepreneurs do, brought them respect, with technicians, such as through and women make up a villagers now looking up to scholarships, internships, significant number of small them as technical experts.30 exchange programs, and and micro informal business innovation competitions. owners in urban areas.28 25 When municipalities are the client, these elements are included in CEG review and added to the ESAP as needed. 26 Women in Water Utilities: Breaking Barriers. World Bank, 2019. 27 Gender Balance in the Water and Sanitation Workforce. Water and Sanitation for the Urban Poor, 2019. 28 Impacts of Domestic Water Supply on Gender and Income: Results from a Participatory Study in a Drought-Prone Region in Gujarat, India. Sijbesma, C., J. Verhagen, R. Nanavaty, and A. J. James, 2009. 29 Sisters are tapping it for themselves. Raphael Tenthani, 2002. 30 Women hand pump mechanics on the move. UNICEF India, 2009. Integrating Gender into an Investment Project—Operational Entry Points The INR gender team is available to help Investment Officers at the following stages: Identify ways in which women and men may be impacted by and benefit from the project IDENTIFY differently, including accessing employment, supply chain, and benefits/risks. Assess Concept Review GENDER actions that will maximize opportunities and minimize risks for the project. OPPORTUNITIES Identify how to design the project in a way that meets the Gender Flag requirements. SUPPORT Support for teams through review of project documents, Terms of Reference, and input on project design. Appraisal SCOPING/ Conduct a gender assessment and identify actions to close potential gender gaps, as part DIAGNOSTIC of an investment project, or as opportunities to collaborate over time, using the broader WITH CLIENTS suite of IFC offerings. Provide input and language to address gender in board papers. Board Approval BOARD PAPERS Finalize and apply Gender Flag to the project. CLIENT SUPPORT Assist with implementation of activities identified during gender assessment including Disbursement/ trainings and capacity building. Supervision Help to measure and report on business and development impact of gender actions. MONITORING Document and apply lessons learned to future investments and client engagement. Resources For Gender-Smart Solutions in Water & Sanitation Toolkit for Mainstreaming Gender in Water Operations | World Bank Group, 2016 This toolkit provides teams with guidance to improve gender mainstreaming in water operations project design, implementation, and evaluation. It also looks at how to ensure project-development objectives equally address the specific and shared interests of both females and males throughout the project cycle. Women in Water Utilities: Breaking Barriers | World Bank Group, 2019 This report looks at four stages of an employee life cycle: attraction, recruitment, retention, and advancement, and at each stage identifies both challenges and opportunities for service providers who want to improve their gender diversity. Gender & Water and Sanitation Projects | World Bank Group This page includes links to water and sanitation sector-specific resources, as well as international policy and guidance documents that address including a gender perspective in projects. Why Gender Matters in IWRM: A tutorial for water managers | CAP-NET, GWA, 2014 This self-learning tool, for professionals and managers working in the water sector, explains why and how to integrate gender concerns, and how to implement a gender approach to Integrated Water Resources Management. For more information, please contact: Adriana Eftimie | aeftimie@ifc.org Sherry Goldberg | sgoldberg@ifc.org Vanessa Janik | vjanik@ifc.org www.commdev.org/topics/gender