Pakistan

GOOD PRACTICES IN GENDER MAINSTREAMING AND IMPLEMENTATION OF THE BEIJING PLATFORM FOR ACTION

FAO

PROJECT SHEET - PAKISTAN

Project Title:

"Inter-Regional Project For Participatory Upland Conservation And Development" - Pakistan

Project Duration:

6 years (1992-1998)

Executing Agency/agencies:

FAO

Implementing Agency/agencies:

FAO and the Balochistan Forest and Wildlife Department

Project cost

Amount

Source of funds

US $ 1,896,000
(US $ 270,000 per year)

Government of Italy

Overview

Culturally in Pakistan, men and women are segregated and thus, separate project field teams had to be established to implement the project. When the initial project strategy for implementation was formulated, taking into account the results of the first participatory rural appraisal (PRA), the full participation of women was considered vital to the project's success.

A participatory methodology that focused on promoting the empowerment of rural women through the formation of village level associations, was developed. Women's associations became forums through which women had access to information and training. They provided support to women, allowing them to develop self-confidence in expressing opinions and in contributing to decision making. Access to credit and income, from income generating activities, also gave women recognition and confidence. Side by side with the formation of women's associations, a programme was integrated to increase women's involvement with, and awareness of, environmental issues, by paying attention to the needs expressed by rural women in the PRAs. The project introduced Gender Awareness (GA) training at three levels: at the community level, the mid-level of extensionists and field workers and at the top management or director level. Another project will have to be designed to introduce the importance of integrating gender concerns in the planning of participatory watershed management programs of government Forestry or Soil and Water Conservation departments.

Specific changes resulting from the project included:
Due to the fact that women's participation was being mainstreamed as part of the project strategy for implementation, striking results were obtained in natural resources conservation (NRC). Even though PRA tools - like the Daily Time Profile, which are designed to collect gender disaggregated data - indicate clearly that women are responsible for agricultural field work, for the collection of fuel and fodder, for carrying water and feeding and caring for animals, technically there is still no place for gender-related information to be integrated directly into project planning The project illustrated how rural women can be involved in NRC.

What was planned

To promote and consolidate people's participation in the conservation and development of upland catchments, in accordance with government policies and priorities. The adaptation and implementation of participatory methods and the promotion of an integrated approach to watershed management are the central elements of this multi-component project. The "gender perspective", as one of the elements necessary for the participation of rural women in natural resource conservation, became a major component of the project.

What was the strategy

A participatory and integrated approach to watershed management and natural resources use and conservation, was promoted by the project both within the Forest and Wildlife Department, as well as through much needed coordination with the Agriculture and Livestock Departments. The project was designed so that a strategy could be evolved based on the results of the PRAs. A strategy was developed based on the assessment of local physical and socio-economic realities, problems and potentials, and from the identification of priority activities to support the implementation of selected activities by the population. To implement the strategy the following actions were taken:
o Increase water infiltration by reducing run-off;
o Promote water use/water management;
o Promote water use regulation water policy starting at village and area level;
o Promote women's participation in resource management development programmes.

Who was involved

Besides the Balochistan Forest and Wildlife Department, FAO staff and consultants, local populations, relevant government agencies, the private sector and NGOs were involved. In 1993 and 1994, the project had contracted an NGO, the Balochistan Rural Support Programme (BRSP), to assist in training group promoters and Forestry staff in communication skills, group management, record keeping and rural finance.
In June 1997, the project staff facilitated a community evaluation team to evaluate the women's programme. The team was composed of ten women from five women's associations. Activities to be evaluated were proposed by all the associations and narrowed to the following:
o Natural resource conservation activities;
o Training;
o Credit and income generating activities.
The "community evaluation team" selected indicators for the activities to be evaluated and they even interviewed 20 non-project participants for the evaluation. The results are published in A Rural Women's Evaluation of an Environmental Project, FAO, Quetta, August 1997.
Direct collaboration exchange has also been established with various other FAO, UNDP, UNICEF and bilateral development projects.

Replication / spin effects

Based on the very positive results obtained, replication/expansion of the project is under consideration. A potential partnership, which would ensure continuation of the project, is with the UNDP "Balochistan area development programme" expected to start in 1999. (CIDA has pledged additional funds for the present project area).

What was learned / which were the factors contributing to the success of the initiative

Lessons learned while developing programmes with a gender perspective on natural resource conservation (NRC):
o Avoid placing women in WID components of NRC projects where they have no voice, rather than mainstreaming women's activities in projects and give them complete equity.
o Use the PRA as a focal point to evolve an ever changing process that promotes women's and community participation in NRC, instead of imposing set targets. Sustainability is not a fixed concept, it is ever changing and always adapting.
o Accept that NRC, because it is long-term and does not deliver immediate benefit, is not a priority with rural people. PRAs need to be directed to NRC, but when rural men and women participate in PRAs their expectations are raised and, therefore, immediate benefits need to be integrated into NRC projects.
o Consider carefully the triple gender role of rural women and their real time constraints while designing activities with them.
o Make sure that group promoters or extensionists are trained in using tools to collect and use gender disaggregated information.
o Ensure that gender training is conducted, especially at the senior management and decision-making level, but also at the community level.

For more information, contact :

Women in Development Service, Women and Population Division, Sustainable Development Department,
Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations
Vial delle Terme di Caracalla, 00100, Rome, Italy
Tel: +39.06.5705.5102 Fax: +39.06.5705.2004


Project Title:	"Inter-Regional Project For Participatory Upland Conservation And Development" - Pakistan
Project Duration:	6 years (1992-1998)
Executing Agency/agencies:	FAO
Implementing Agency/agencies:	FAO and the Balochistan Forest and Wildlife Department
Project cost	Amount	Source of funds
	US $ 1,896,000 (US $ 270,000 per year)	Government of Italy
Overview
Culturally in Pakistan, men and women are segregated and thus, separate project field teams had to be established to implement the project. When the initial project strategy for implementation was formulated, taking into account the results of the first participatory rural appraisal (PRA), the full participation of women was considered vital to the project's success. A participatory methodology that focused on promoting the empowerment of rural women through the formation of village level associations, was developed. Women's associations became forums through which women had access to information and training. They provided support to women, allowing them to develop self-confidence in expressing opinions and in contributing to decision making. Access to credit and income, from income generating activities, also gave women recognition and confidence. Side by side with the formation of women's associations, a programme was integrated to increase women's involvement with, and awareness of, environmental issues, by paying attention to the needs expressed by rural women in the PRAs. The project introduced Gender Awareness (GA) training at three levels: at the community level, the mid-level of extensionists and field workers and at the top management or director level. Another project will have to be designed to introduce the importance of integrating gender concerns in the planning of participatory watershed management programs of government Forestry or Soil and Water Conservation departments. Specific changes resulting from the project included: Due to the fact that women's participation was being *mainstreamed* as part of the project strategy for implementation, striking results were obtained in natural resources conservation (NRC). Even though PRA tools - like the Daily Time Profile, which are designed to collect gender disaggregated data - indicate clearly that women are responsible for agricultural field work, for the collection of fuel and fodder, for carrying water and feeding and caring for animals, technically there is still no place for gender-related information to be integrated directly into project planning The project illustrated how rural women can be involved in NRC.
What was planned
To promote and consolidate people's participation in the conservation and development of upland catchments, in accordance with government policies and priorities. The adaptation and implementation of participatory methods and the promotion of an integrated approach to watershed management are the central elements of this multi-component project. The "gender perspective", as one of the elements necessary for the participation of rural women in natural resource conservation, became a major component of the project.
What was the strategy
A participatory and integrated approach to watershed management and natural resources use and conservation, was promoted by the project both within the Forest and Wildlife Department, as well as through much needed coordination with the Agriculture and Livestock Departments. The project was designed so that a strategy could be evolved based on the results of the PRAs. A strategy was developed based on the assessment of local physical and socio-economic realities, problems and potentials, and from the identification of priority activities to support the implementation of selected activities by the population. To implement the strategy the following actions were taken: o Increase water infiltration by reducing run-off; o Promote water use/water management; o Promote water use regulation water policy starting at village and area level; o Promote women's participation in resource management development programmes.
Who was involved
Besides the Balochistan Forest and Wildlife Department, FAO staff and consultants, local populations, relevant government agencies, the private sector and NGOs were involved. In 1993 and 1994, the project had contracted an NGO, the Balochistan Rural Support Programme (BRSP), to assist in training group promoters and Forestry staff in communication skills, group management, record keeping and rural finance. In June 1997, the project staff facilitated a *community evaluation team* to evaluate the women's programme. The team was composed of ten women from five women's associations. Activities to be evaluated were proposed by all the associations and narrowed to the following: o Natural resource conservation activities; o Training; o Credit and income generating activities. The *"community evaluation team"* selected indicators for the activities to be evaluated and they even interviewed 20 non-project participants for the evaluation. The results are published in A Rural Women's Evaluation of an Environmental Project, FAO, Quetta, August 1997. Direct collaboration exchange has also been established with various other FAO, UNDP, UNICEF and bilateral development projects.
Replication / spin effects
Based on the very positive results obtained, replication/expansion of the project is under consideration. A potential partnership, which would ensure continuation of the project, is with the UNDP "Balochistan area development programme" expected to start in 1999. (CIDA has pledged additional funds for the present project area).
What was learned / which were the factors contributing to the success of the initiative
Lessons learned while developing programmes with a gender perspective on natural resource conservation (NRC): o Avoid placing women in WID components of NRC projects where they have no voice, rather than mainstreaming women's activities in projects and give them complete equity. o Use the PRA as a focal point to evolve an ever changing process that promotes women's and community participation in NRC, instead of imposing set targets. Sustainability is not a fixed concept, it is ever changing and always adapting. o Accept that NRC, because it is long-term and does not deliver immediate benefit, is not a priority with rural people. PRAs need to be directed to NRC, but when rural men and women participate in PRAs their expectations are raised and, therefore, immediate benefits need to be integrated into NRC projects. o Consider carefully the triple gender role of rural women and their real time constraints while designing activities with them. o Make sure that group promoters or extensionists are trained in using tools to collect and use gender disaggregated information. o Ensure that gender training is conducted, especially at the senior management and decision-making level, but also at the community level.
For more information, contact :
Women in Development Service, Women and Population Division, Sustainable Development Department, Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations Vial delle Terme di Caracalla, 00100, Rome, Italy Tel: +39.06.5705.5102 Fax: +39.06.5705.2004