Lao PDR

Gender Equality Results

in ADB Loan No. 2086
2086-- LAO (SF)
Northern Community-
Community- Management Irrigation
Sector Project
j (NCMI)
( )

Theonakhet Saphakdy
GAD Specialist, LAO PDR
GS Workshop,
W k h Manila
M il
October 27, 2010

The views expressed in this paper are the views of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of
the Asian Development Bank (ADB), or its Board of Governors, or the governments they represent. ADB does not
guarantee the accuracy of the data included in this paper and accepts no responsibility for any consequence of their 1
use. The countries listed in this paper do not imply any view on ADB's part as to sovereignty or independent status
or necessarily conform to ADB's terminology.
 Project Background
ƒ Project Timeline
14 October 2004 to 30 April 2011.
ƒ Project Impact
Reduce rural poverty in five Northern provinces through sustained
agricultural growth.
ƒ Project Outcome
Increase agricultural production and income
income--earning opportunities
through the development of Community Management Irrigation
(CMI) schemes with strong community ownership.
ƒ Project Outputs
1. Community mobilization
2. Institutional capacity building for better participatory planning
facilitation and technical management
3. CMI investment
4. Agricultural extension and resource planning.
ƒ P j t Executing
Project E ti Agency
A
Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (Irrigation Dept.) 2
Key Gender Issues Identified in Project Design
ƒ Women traditionally play a major role in irrigation-
irrigation-related
activities and all phases of the rice-
rice-cropping cycle
ƒ Women in project areas are disadvantaged relative to
men due to:
☹ Lower level of literacy
☹ Lack opportunities and time to participate equally as men in
meetings, training initiatives, and study tours.
☹ A few women farmers are appointed to decision-
decision-making positions
in Water User Association Committees,
☹ A few women are appointed as technical assistants in local
government agencies.
☹ The number of female-
female-headed households in the project area is
limited, and they are not necessarily categorized as vulnerable
groups—
groups —except for young widows with small children, and
divorcees.

3
A woman brings fruits and vegetables for Women carry bamboo shoots for selling in the
selling in the city
city (1500 kip per kilogram)
4
 Gender Action Plan Achievements
Project Output 1: Establishment of viable community organizations with strong
ownership and participation of all villagers
Expected Indicators Responsibilities Achievements
GAP Output
Providing the At least PMT&DLWU The Project has completed mobilization of
enabling one man Community Level Organizers (CLO) in all
environment and one subprojects, with a total of 144 CLOs: 65
for women to woman women (45.1%) with minimum of two CLOs
more actively from each in each village with representation of women
and effectively village and indigenous groups found in each
participate in appointed community.
the public as Water User Associations ((WUA)) have been
decision- community formed in all 33 subprojects and registered with
making - level 2,467 households as members, of which 35%
processes at organizer percent is female.
the community Seventeen (17) water supply systems were
level. constructed with Water User Associations and
water supply service fees system in place. A
total of 3,232 laborers,1,113 (34.4%) women
have been mobilized by the communities for
water supply system maintenance.
5
PMT: Project Management team
DLWU: District Lao Women’s Union
 Gender Action Plan Achievements
Project Output :2. Local government agencies capable in providing effective
assistance to communities
communities, and community leaders strengthened
Expected Indicators Responsibilities Achievements
GAP Output
Ensure 50% PMT&DLWU To encourage women’s
women s participation in project
women’s women in activities, DLWU was involved in (i) village
participation in community consultations, (ii) establishment of WUA/ farmer
community meetings production groups (FPGs) , (iii) initial social
dialogue and and in assessment survey
survey, (iv) resettlement survey and
partnership project monitoring, and (v) work allocation for
activities on activities. construction works, etc.
an equal basis DLWU’s support for women's participation has
with men i
improved d th
the number
b off women participants
ti i t in
i
(e.g., community meetings and in project activities
meetings and 56,5%
farmer
exchanges)
exchanges).

6
PMT: Project Management team
DLWU: District Lao Women’s Union
 Gender Action Plan Achievements
Project Output :3. Irrigation Schemes upgraded with full participation of
villagers and adequately maintained periodically
villagers, periodically.
Expected Indicators Responsibilities Achievements
GAP Output
Women s
Women’s 50% of PMT Water User Groups have been established,
established with
participation in water user a total of 15 groups for system of rice
Water User group intensification (SRI), with 453 members. These
Groups (WUA) groups were households based. Women
members account for 50% of participants.
participants
are
women.

7
PMT: Project Management team
DLWU: District Lao Women’s Union
 Gender Action Plan Achievements
Project Output :4.
:4 Increased agricultural production options for both irrigated
land and upland, and land and water resource use optimized in
the project communities
Expected GAP Indicators Responsibilities Achievements
Output
Promote men 50% crop PMT There were 24 crop productivity
workingg with women productivity
p y improvement
p g
groups,
p 409
in the Project (e.g., improvement members 50% were women for
on-farm crop group members diversified crops
productivity are women
improvement
p trials))

Prioritize women’s Project identify PMT&DLWU To support the upland farmers,

needs (e.g., DAFSO women needs the project provided technical
extension officers training on poultry raising for
providing training in upland farmers,
f particularly
fields requested by women farmers who raised
women such as chickens a total of 326
animal health households in 33 subprojects
i
interventions).
i )
PMT: Project Management team
8
DLWU: District Lao Women’s Union
 Gender Action Plan Achievements
Project Output :4. Increased agricultural production options for both irrigated land and
upland,
p , and land and water resource use optimized
p in the project
p j communities ((con’t))
Expected GAP Output Indicators Responsibilities Achievements

Reducing rice deficits 50% of PMT Demonstrations of improved rice

and thereby farmers production in both wet and dry seasons in
contributing to are all subprojects, especially on improved
household food women rice varieties using system of rice
security intensification (SRI) technique in selected
fields. The SRI was implemented in all 33
schemes with a total area of 487 ha
involving 1,162 farmers and in 20
subprojects in dry season 2009-2010 with
372 ha involving 1,300 farmers 50% of
farmers were women
Adding value to 50% of PMT Diversified crops have been introduced in
existing upland women demonstration plots covering 227 ha
agricultural activities participate and1,001 households, 50% of member
via appropriate and in were women
market oriented demonstra
technology options. tion plots

9
PMT: Project Management team
DLWU: District Lao Women’s Union
 Gender Action Plan Achievements
Project Output :4. Increased agricultural production options for both irrigated land and
upland,
p , and land and water resource use optimized
p in the project
p j communities ((con’t))
Expected GAP Indicators Responsibili Achievements
Output ties
Providingg women with Facilitate and PMT&DLWU To support
pp upland
p farmers further, p
poultry
y
the opportunity to provide raising was re-started during the dry
decide what opportunity to season 2009-2010. Through village
knowledge they women for consultations, a total number of 358
would like to acquire
q improving
p g households were selected to form p poultry
y
through training. family income raising groups and receive related
through extension support from the Project.
training Women took lead in poultry raising

10
PMT: Project Management team
DLWU: District Lao Women’s Union
 Impact Story

ƒ Ngoi district of Luangprabang province is one of the 11 districts

which was covered under the Project
Project.

ƒ Muangxeun village of Ngoi district is one of the three villages of the

Project.
Project

ƒ This village comprises total population of 258 inhabitants, 144

women and 49 households.
households. All of them are farmers.

ƒ The Project improved the irrigation system, introduced new

techniques
q to improve
p yyields,, including
g the system
y of rice
intensification (SRI) technique, and provided water supply with
emphasis on strong community ownership and participation.

11
 Model family

ƒ This case study shows how an individual family has

benefited from the p
project
j interventions and especially,
p y
how women’s status has improved.

ƒ Ms.
Ms Sida Chitphanya , 48 years old and her husband
husband,
DaoHeuang Chitphanya, 52 years old have been active
participants in project activities.

ƒ Like other families in project areas, Ms. Sida’s family

improved their livelihoods due to project interventions.

ƒ The positive impact is presented with a comparative

analysis of Ms
Ms. Sida’s
Sida s family situation before and after
the project intervention.
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 Comparison of family situation before and after the Project intervention
Criteria
Area of rice field (Low land)
Number of rice cropping per
year (improved technology
and
d iirrigation
i ti systems).
t )
Slash and burn (upland rice)
Rice production
Property ownership
Labor--saving Assets
Labor
Division of labor
Before project intervention
0.65 hectares
1 time (wet season only)
2 hectares per year
1.6 tons (insufficient rice)
A small and temporary
house
Rented a buffalo to clear the
land for planting rice
(husband + wife)
Used labor cleaning rice field
and garden (wife work)
Used labor for controlling a
boat to go to city and fishing
Used rice mortar (wife)
No fan, TV, refrigerator and
furniture
After project intervention
2.5 hectares
2 times (wet & dry seasons
due to irrigation and rice
i t
intensification
ifi ti system)
t )
No Slash and burn
22 tons (surplus)
A concrete house was
constructed in 2008
Own/use a tractor 2008 (20
million kip) husband alone to
clear land and carry firewood
Own/use a lawn mower in
2010 (2.8 million kip)
(h b d)
(husband)
Own a motor boat (2009) so
can reach markets and
hospitals easilyy
Own a rice mill -8hrs saved
Purchased fan, TV, 13
refrigerator and furniture
 Comparison of family situation before and after the Project intervention
Criteria Before project After project intervention
intervention
Basic Needs No electricity Accessed to electricity 2005
Family Well-Being No water supply, wash Water supply available, wash
clothes twice/mo.
twice/mo in river clothes every day at home
No toilet Household toilet was constructed
in 2008, improved HH sanitation
Food security and No income activity Owns a sundries shopp in her house
income-generating earning benefit 40,000 kip/day
opportunities for
No garden Has a garden (planting vegetable,
Ms. Sida beans and cucumbers); sells
surplus
l (24 million
illi kip
ki iincome))
No livestock Raises chickens ducks & pigs due
to enough water, bran and rice to
feed animals. ((3 million kip/year).
py )
Education of 7 children Children could not Children continue to study after
continue to study after elementary school, one already in
elementary school university in Vientiane
Health No medical check up. Yearly medical check up.
Went to hospital only in Go to hospital immediately when
14
serious case they are sick.
 Impact on HH Decision-
Decision-making and
Status in Family and Community

ƒ Before, Ms. Sida had to consult with her husband to

make any decision.
decision
Right now, she makes decisions by herself for buying
furniture, clothes, food and kitchen equipments
because she considers that the benefits from her
sundries shop and from gardening products are the
women’s income, so, she and her daughters take
lead on these household purchases.
p

ƒ She has more opportunity to access to information by

using her mobile phone and watching television.

ƒ She is a very active participant in village meetings.

15
 Conclusion
Th Northern
The N th C
Community-
Community it -Management
M t Irrigation
I i ti Project
P j t
was rated as a highly successful project in achieving its
GAD objectives and targets.
targets.
9 It has improved women’s decision making status in their households
and communities.
communities.

9 It has
h improved
i d agricultural
i lt l production
d ti andd food
f d security
security.
it .

9 It has provided income-

income-earning opportunities for both men and women
in the project area through the development of CMI schemes with
strong community ownership.

9 It has improved family well being with reduction in women’s workloads,

increases
i iin iincome and
d llabor-
labor
b -saving
i assets,
t and d iimproved
d
opportunities to access education, health, information services and
markets.

16
 Before the project intervention

Ms. Sida spent at least one and a half hours collected water
17
from Ou River for daily used.
 After the project intervention

Ms. Sida now can use clean water supply near by her home
18
Ms. Sida and her Sundries shop No road connection from village to other places 19
A former house The current house 20
20
 Thank you for your attention

ADB - LRM Project Officer and Gender Specialist in the field