Wrapping Up

I have so thoroughly enjoyed the process of writing this blog and I can't believe that it has come to a conclusion already. Over the course of the last few months I have attempted to illuminate the many ways in which gender intersects with issues of water and sanitation in Africa. In doing so I have learned a great deal and found myself subconsciously returning to a few important points:

• The inattention to the varied needs of many stakeholders, in particular women, girls and people who menstruate, is hampering developmental progress. There is a great deal of literature on the need for gender mainstreaming in the development discourse but we're yet to see this gain traction in more tangible ways.
• With reference to the point above, practical/infrastructural interventions must be accompanied or even preceded by work to address socio-cultural beliefs that make water 'women's work' and the gendered politics of water governance. This means going beyond perfunctory efforts to fill quotas and consult stakeholders. Wider work on socio-cultural philosophies and practices held by all genders is needed, or the efficacy of interventions will continue to be challenged.
• The resilience and ingenuity displayed in the ability of women, and other frequently ignored stakeholders, to find ways to simply exist despite adversity speaks to the positive contributions they can make to water and sanitation interventions. 

The ripple effect of gender mainstreaming is small but appears to be growing (Link)

Despite pointing out a few holes I am buoyed by the progress being made. Participatory approaches continue to proliferate, as do more democratic paradigms like integrated river basin management. Some groups are taking matters into their own hands and showing just what 'unconventional' approaches can achieve. Overall, the growing presence of gender in the development agenda stands to not only benefit women, girls and people who menstruate but everyone else who has been missing out on their insight too.