Gender – water – foodMekong region

Oxfam’s Mekong Regional TeamCPWF Forum Hanoi Nov 2012

Gender – water – foodContext and snapshot 1

Globally: closing the ‘gender gap’ in agriculture – or increasing women’s contribution to food production and enterprise by providing equal access to resources and opportunities – could reduce the number of hungry people in the world by 12-17 per cent, or by 100 to 150 million people. (Citation: FAO. 2011. The State of Food and Agriculture: Women in Agriculture – Closing the gender gap for development. Rome: FAO)

Women comprise an average of 43 percent of the agricultural labor force (citation: FAO. 2011. The State of Food and Agriculture, p. 7) which is up to almost 50 per cent in Eastern and Southeastern Asia and sub-Saharan Africa)

Gender – water – foodContext and snapshot 2

Why we need to think women and women need to be influentially involved…

Vietnam: Despite substantial progress in closing gender gaps fundamental challenges remain:

• Women’s wages on average 75% of men’s

• Decision making structures at all levels remain male dominated

• 64% of working women in rural areas work in agriculture, compared to 53% men but women have less access to training and on/off farm employment

Gender – water – foodContext and snapshot 3

“ Migrant women, widows, older women, ethnic minorities and women with disabilities are particularly disadvantaged” (World Bank 2011)

Women migrants in Vietnam earn 45% less than men for same hours worked

Gender – water – foodBrainstorm exercise

Why does gender matter in food – water - energy?

Gender – water – foodAssessing the assessment tools and guidance

Gender – water – food

Oxfam’s project assumption:

Involving women…• More often• More meaningfully • Earlier and ongoing• With power• In decisions = better, more sustainable outcomes

Gender – water – foodProject review - Assessment and guidance

tools MRC Design Guidance

http://www.mrcmekong.org/assets/Publications/Consultations/SEA-Hydropower/Preliminary-DG-of-LMB-Mainstream-dams-FinalVersion-Sept09.pdf

RSAT

http://www.mrcmekong.org/assets/Publications/Reports/RSAT-Revision-3-for-printingOCT-3-2010-Corrected-FINAL.PDF

HSAP

http://www.hydropower.org/sustainable_hydropower/hsaf_Hydropower_Sustainability_Assessment_Protocol.html