Stocktaking of Gender Mainstreaming Baselines and Strategies Among Water Users and Water Resources Stakeholders
Context
In 2020, the Government of Rwanda established the Rwanda Water Resources Board (RWB) to achieve two critical goals aligned with Rwanda’s Vision 2050, ensuring sufficient water resources for long-term economic growth and reducing the impact of flooding and landslide risks. These objectives will be accomplished through three key outputs: protection for high-risk flood zones, reduced soil erosion, and increased artificial water storage per capita. The RWB serves as a key implementing partner in the Updated Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) (2020), particularly in the sectors of water, agriculture, human settlements, and disaster risk monitoring.
While Rwanda’s NDC prioritizes gender mainstreaming at all levels of climate-related policy and implementation, the RWB has identified significant challenges in executing gender-responsive anticipatory action. These challenges often stem from structural governance mechanisms. For instance, in 2020, a Water Users and Use Assessment Study contained no disaggregated data on gender participation in water use projects or water use permit ownership.
Goal of TA
The goal of this technical assistance is to strengthen climate action in Rwanda by building the gender-responsive adaptive capacity of the country’s water resources sector.
CAA Technical Assistance
The technical assistance will leverage the experience, expertise, and guidance of the RWB, relevant line ministries, government bodies, and civil society organizations, including women’s and gender networks, ministries, and academic institutions. This collaborative approach will identify key elements for effective gender mainstreaming in water security strategies, plans, and programs.
Specific activities will include:
The technical assistance will include the following activities:
- Update the 2020 Water Users and Use Assessment Study by conducting a comprehensive stocktaking of gender assessments in water use-related projects and collecting gender-disaggregated data.
- Conduct a baseline assessment of gender considerations in water use practices among water users and update the water users’ database accordingly to reflect gender-inclusive data.
- Assess alignment of water resources corporate and sectoral governance instruments with national gender policies and strategies, including governance instruments of the RWB and relevant line ministries.
- Design and deliver a 3-day training program for relevant RWB staff to learn and adopt best practices related to gender mainstreaming in equitable water resources allocation and effective utilization.
- Develop a comprehensive gender mainstreaming strategy and action plan for water resources based on the challenges and opportunities identified through stocktaking, baseline assessment, and alignment activities.
- Prepare a draft update of RWB’s Strategic Plan 2021-2030, incorporating the gender mainstreaming strategy and ensuring alignment with national priorities and international best practices.
