Uzbekistan Country Gender Assessment: Update

Lessons Learned

points to consider in future WSS project design including conducting a baseline survey to obtain sex-disaggregated data on school attendance in relation to water supply challenges (e.g., the effects of girls’ responsibility to provide households with water); households’ level of expenditure on treatment and medicines; and the level of morbidity among the population that relates directly to safe water use and supply.

In 2017, reforms in the water sector led to a reduction in the number of gender focal points (GFps). Because GFps provided key information about the project, the reduction hampered the implementation of the Gap.

32 Uzbekistan Country Gender Assessment Update

Box 6: Water resource Management Project—Outcomes of the Gender Action Plan

the number of women farmers increased by 30%–60%, and established female-headed farms created over 5,000 seasonal jobs for women in the Namangan, Samarkand, and Fergana regions.
Significantly, women farmers profit increased 37% per hectare. their average profit margin is higher compared to men farmers.
Most farms produce, process, and market fruits and vegetables (apricots, apples, peaches, cherries, tomatoes, cucumbers, garlic, onion, greens, etc.), as well as dairy products. project interventions increased the productivity of these farms by an average 10%–30%, increasing household incomes and decreasing the number of low-income people. It also led to time savings (up to 3 hours/day) for fetching water for gardens and plots.^a
Most women in the project area started their own businesses by establishing greenhouses and gardening plots.

the rate of female participation in water consumers associations increased from 3.5% to 7.6% (22 women in 2015 compared to 5 female staff in 2013). additionally, in 2015 the number of women in management bodies of such associations increased 50% compared to 2014.

the project reduced the number of water conflicts. For years, women farmers suffered from the lack of irrigation and spent up to 2 days in water queues, often with conflict between upstream and downstream farmers and farmers of neighboring plots.
Rehabilitated pump stations improved the environment and reduced allergies among women and children.

a hygiene baseline survey, conducted in target schools^b by the project management unit at the project startup stage, showed that low access to clean water and the issues of wastewater, sanitation, and hygiene were acute in beneficiary communities.

In a follow-up survey, a collaboration between state and non-state actors presented a unique opportunity for social partnership. the multi-level scheme consists of three types of informal associations, resulting in successful implementation of set quotas for women’s participation in all interventions by the gender action plan.^c
a adB. 2017. Completion Report: Uzbekistan: Water Resource Management Project. UZB L2492/2493.
^b In 2014, in amu-dariya, Kegeyli, and Shumanay districts of Karakalpakstan, only 12% of the population were provided with drinking water. adB. 2016. UZB: L2069 Amu Zang Irrigation Rehabilitation Project. Gap progress reports, 2014–2016.
^c “three types of associations were established: (i) a public commission in each district under the local hokimiyat
and consisting of the project management unit and representatives from Suvokava, the health-care sector, sanitary epidemiological services, and local branches of the WCU, the Makhallya Foundation, and the Federation of trade Unions, to monitor and assist in the implementation of Gap interventions, ensure the active involvement of women in decision making, and assist in the regular collection of sex-disaggregated data on various indicators; (ii) information consultation centers under Suvokava units, to process customers’ complaints on water supply issues and provide a prompt action response; and (iii) WCas in the target communities, each one bringing together up to five respected and proactive community members, to conduct outreach interventions and raise awareness of the rights and obligations of water consumers and of sanitation and hygiene issues, through training in makhallyas and pilot schools and other activities.
a good example of national ownership was the cosponsorship initiative in 2014 -2015, under which state and non-state stakeholders sponsored the printing of project leaflets with a sharpened gender focus and donated hygiene packs to 1,865 school students in five project regions (amounting to SUM24 million).
Mainstreaming Gender in ADB Operations, by Sector 33

Faulty toilet and bathroom equipment cause frequent leakage in secondary schools and secondary vocational educational institutions, resulting in wasteful use of piped water and closure of indoor sanitary facilities. as a result, teachers and students must use old outdoor facilities, with negative sanitary and health implications, especially for girls and women.

8.