Integrating gender issues into water programmes

The nature and characteristics of a sector is the main determinant of the specific role gender issues will play within it. With the dawn of the International Drinking Water Supply and Sanitation Decade, this role and the need for each gender type to support one another has been greatly emphasised and its benefits and implications for Water Projects elaborated. Given the fact that Communities are the main beneficiaries of water projects, it is only imperative that those who comprise it, be given equal opportunity to participate in its provision and delivery. But what often happens, is a situation where men are in the fore, with women in a more silent position. The question is why is this so? Through this paper, the authors seek to investigate and bring to the fore, some of the factors that militate against the active involvement of women in the sector and to propose some strategies that can be used to incorporate gender issues more effectively into water supply Programmes.