Towards a gender-transformative climate-resilient rural water supply: women's involvement, roles, and rights in community-based water management in Indonesia

Abstract

The role of women in the rural water sector is important to accelerate gender transformative change in Indonesia and elsewhere. This study examined the gender dynamics among users and within the management of community-based organizations (CBOs) providing rural water supply (RWS) services in Indonesia, using 31 interviews, 3 workshops, and 31 focus group discussions in 27 rural sites. We used the gender continuum framework to investigate the gender dynamics within the CBO. We found that women played critical roles as both users and in management, despite barriers to meaningful participation. Women were involved in discussions and meetings and were effective in administrative and financial tasks. Climate change affects women disproportionately as users, although we gained no insight into gendered climate impacts in CBO management. Women in CBO management were disadvantaged by household responsibilities. Overall, of the 27 RWS CBO study sites, a moderate proportion (7/27) were deemed gender insensitive, approximately a third (10/27) gender sensitive, another third (8/27) gender responsive, and only a minority (2/27) gender transformative. These findings demonstrate opportunities to enhance women's technical and leadership skills and address sociocultural norms that limit women's involvement, while also highlighting that these efforts can increase climate resilience in RWSs.