The Water Research Commission (WRC) in South Africa conducted a fascinating recent research study in four village to find out how the gender policy of the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry (DWAF) works out in the rural areas, far away from DWAF head office in Pretoria. The policy formulated in 1997 required a quota of at least 30% (since increased to 50%) of women in all decision-making committees as well as adequate participation and technical training. Fort Hare lecturer Priscilla Monyai looked at four villages close to the town of Peddie in the densely populated former Ciskei , between Grahamstown and King Williams Town. About 4000 people live in the villages of Cisira, Ncala, Nqwenerana and Mgwangqa. All get their water from the Peddie water supply scheme which began supplying clean drinking water in 1999. R. Berold's account is fascinating reading. Here are a few highlights.

As far as the author could see, the water scheme at Peddie was working relatively well, despite the complaints voiced to her. ?It was not clear to me, though, how this reflected gender policy in practice. At the University of Fort Hare I asked researcher Priscilla Monyai. In her view, many things could have been done better. For example, she said, the social consultation in the Peddie project had been far too rushed. The contractors hired social consultants to do some gender capacity building ?but the time they were given was too limiting ? just a few weeks. The project was all about providing water, and the gender aspect was just an afterthought.?

Mr Jako, the Peddie steering committee chairperson agreed, but added "You see, when the project started, it was after a long battle. You found that people were so excited to get water. When these other issues like gender were raised, you found that people were impatient.?

As Barbara Schreiner, Deputy Director-General at DWAF summarised it: ?It is easier to write good policy than to turn it into reality. The gender policy of DWAF is excellent, but implementing it carries a number of challenges. Meeting the required 50% quota of women on all structures has been difficult. While there is general awareness of the quota system, exercising control by and participation of women is still an uphill battle in many areas. This is a battle that we will continue to fight for many years to come.?

Source: Berold, R. (2004). Women and water : how is gender policy working on the ground?
Pretoria, South Africa, Water Research Centre. 8 p. : photogr.
http://www.wrc.org.za/files/waw_reduced.pdf

Tags: gender, policies & legislation