Hydro Developers Talk Gender

The Hydropower Developers’ Working Group of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic’s met with the Lao Women’s Union and Oxfam in mid-September to discuss the incorporation of gender considerations into each step of hydro project development cycles. IFC, Oxfam, and the Lao Women’s Union all agree projects that mainstream gender into initial project planning will have lower costs and improved business operations in the long term.

Michael Simon, Water and Infrastructure Program Advisor for Oxfam said, “Gender mainstreaming is not about the number of women in your human resources roster, it’s about your core business operations. There are real opportunities for hydro developers to make positive contributions to women in communities affected by their projects.”

Representatives from both Oxfam and the Lao Women’s Union emphasized the need to include gender equity in management plans to help developers avoid additional costs during construction and operation phases. They said involving women in design of mitigation and development plans would contribute to the success of projects.

The World Bank reported in 2013 that economic inequity between women and men persists worldwide. Social norms affect women’s work, prohibiting them from achieving their full potential in the workplace. According to the World Bank, women account for only 6 percent of those employed in Lao PDR’s mining and hydropower sectors.

Oxfam’s 2013 manual, “Balancing the Scales: Using Gender Impact Assessment in Hydropower Development”, helps developers identify, understand, and respond to gender differences and opportunities. It helps companies mainstream gender with good project design and management principles.

“Next, we will work more closely with developers to find a synergy with private sector and NGO experiences,” said Simon. “We received valuable feedback from the Hydropower Developers’ Working Group. We clearly need more outreach with the private sector on gender mainstreaming.”

The Hydropower Developers’ Working Group was launched in 2013 to provide a space for interactive seminars between the private sector and other stakeholders on applying good international industry practices to the sector.

For more information on Oxfam’s gender impact assessment for hydropower, contact Pauline Taylor McKeown, Oxfam Mekong Regional Program Manager.