Foreign Correspondents'

Uganda's fresh water, like elsewhere globally, is a strategic natural resource vital for life sustenance, social economic development and maintenance of the environment. The resource is finite and indeed vulnerable. There are also already worrying cases of pollution, and degradation of water resources afflicted by both natural and human factors.

The majority of Ugandans have no access to clean safe water in easy reach. Many water sources are not well managed and maintained.

In order to secure water in rural and urban centers, the government of Uganda enacted the water statute 1995; the water resources regulation 1998 and finally the National Water policy 1999. The National Water Policy involves water resource management with objectives and strategies for monitoring, assessment, allocation and protection of the water resources as well as water use and development which basically deals with the domestic water supply. The latter involves provision of a clean, safe and sufficient supply of water for domestic purposes to all persons. This policy promotes a new integrated approach to water resources management in ways that are sustainable and most beneficial to Ugandans.

The Government of Uganda through the Directorate of Water Development (DWD) and National Water and Sewerage Cooperation (NWSC) with donor assistance has embarked on a number of rural water and sanitation projects with an ultimate goal of raising the service level of the rural water supply from 30% in 1999 to 100% by 2015.

The Project involves drilling boreholes, digging shallow wells, spring protection, rainwater harvesting systems, construction of town water supply, construction of gravity flow water schemes and technical assistance in the study and design of water systems. Notable among the donors is JICA with a project in Mubende, Kiboga and Mpigi districts from 1998-2000 with a total of US$13m for borehole drilling and repair in the three districts. Other projects are supported by UNICEF,

DANIDA, EU/SNV.

By September 2003(Water Quarterly Bullet-Directorate of Water Development), the rural water supply increased by 4% up from 54.8% in June 2002 to 58.5% in June 2003.

1992 springs and 1315 shallow wells were constructed. 507 boreholes drilled and 255 boreholes rehabilitated. 216 public taps; 201 rain water tanks for rural for rural primary schools; 91 valley tanks, and 100 gravity public taps were established.

Efforts to mainstream gender in the water sector at National level are supported by the Water Sector Gender Strategy (WSGS) as part of the Ministry of Water, Lands and Environment Strategy. It involves enhancing equity, participation, access and control of water resources of both men and women. It has been realized that equal participation is necessary to enhance long-term efficient operation and management of water and sanitation facilities for longer periods. Consequently, although gender therefore forms the major components of the sector plans, policies and operations at management level, efforts to build capacity in this area need to be improved.

Keywords: Gender equality, sea water, the shift from domestic to public role.

Abstract:
It is widely known that 70 % of the territory of Indonesia is made up of seawater, with the land mass accounting for just 30%. The onshore population benefit from the sea as it has become the primary source to earn a living. In Gresik, East Java, apart from being utilized for salt water fish ponds, seawater is also used for salt ponds. In the old days, the salt farm laborers used a traditional tool called a SEBOR, which required much physical strength to operate. As a result, it was generally operated by males, with female laborers playing a supporting role. However, today the use of such tool, is rare and it has been replaced by a windmill, a more modern tool. The windmill can be operated by either female or male laborers and, moreover, it allows for the flow of seawater more quickly into the available plots. As a result, salt manufacturing is now being done by both male and female laborers. This shows now gender equality and the shift of women's roles from domestic to public ones are taking place among salt farm laborers. Today a lot of work can be done by men and women together.

Gender Equality in Sea Water Management In Gresik East Java
Water has always played a crucial role in human life. According to data issued by the United Nations, the Earth contains 2.75% groundwater and 97.25% seawater (Kompas, 2004). Seawater is widely spread across the Earth.

Geographically, in Indonesia seawater occupies 70% of the overall area of the country (Azis 2000). Thus, for Indonesians who live on along the coast line, seawater is the primary source for earning a living with locals catching fish, growing seaweeds and obtaining seashells for trade. It is also used for saltwater fishponds or making salt. In areas such as Gresik and Madura, seawater is the primary material for salt production manufactured by male and female laborers.

Gender equality in the process of salt manufacturing

Seawater is the primary material for salt manufacturing and the process is very much dependent on natural heating from the sun, which is why salt is usually manufactured during the dry season.

Initially, the owners of salt ponds located close to shores, prepare plots to vaporize seawater. Then, they let seawater flow into available plots using a traditional tool called a sebor. This tool is usually operated by male laborers assisted by female laborers. After being vaporized in the first plot, the water is then flow along to the next plot. Interestingly, when this kind of work utilizes a windmill rather than a sebor, it can be done by both male and female laborers. After that the water is flowed into another plot then measured to find out the salinity since the more it vaporizes the greater the salinity. Such a task is usually conducted by both male and female laborers.

A month and a half later, the salt is harvested and packed into available plastic bags and later placed into a barn ready for sale. Both male and female laborers are engaged in this kind of work. However, the number of male laborers is slightly larger than for females. Then, comes the division of the crops in which the owner of the farm obtains 2/3 while the laborers get 1/3. This kind of job is usually done by either male of female laborers. This kind of division has been mutually conducted according to the local tradition for a long time and considered a fair transaction.

The shift from domestic to public role

Previously, salt manufacturing was mainly conducted by male laborers. Prior to the availability of the windmill as a more modern tool than the other traditional sebor, the manufacturing required male laborers to operate the tools as they needed the physical strength of male laborers. With the windmill replacing the traditional tools sebor, female laborers can easily make the seawater flow into the available plots. This means that the role of female laborers have received wide recognition from the local community as their role has moved up from approximately 20% to 40% of the process.(Mochid, 2004)

The process of manufacturing salt from seawater can now employ female laborers is who were previously engaged in domestic activities. This fact is in line with Umar's (2004) prediction that gender equality will materialize eventually, but take a long time to achieve it. So the activities of academics, NGOs and women movements have to be optimalised.

As female and male laborers can mutually benefit from seawater by turning it into salt, women are no longer marginalized from the manufacturing process (Fakih 1997). The shift from domestic roles to public roles signifies progress and is becoming widely accepted practice in community.

It can be concluded that the utilization of seawater supported with sophisticated technology can bring about gender equality by allowing women to move from domestic to public roles in society. By working together, women are able to show that they are as capable as their male counterparts.

An overwhelming majority of active women in Nepal, 93.7 , work in agriculture. Recently, the contribution of women to irrigated agriculture is gaining recognition through the efforts of bilateral agencies working for gender equity and empowerment. In view of this, the Agriculture Perspective Plan (APP) has recently accorded gender issues a high priority and recognized gender as one of the important implementation strategies. Not only does APP give explicit consideration to gender issues in all aspects of its plan, but also specifies how women can be brought into the mainstream of accelerated growth. Specifically, the APP aims to improve access of women to production inputs and credit, bring women actively into income generation and marketing activities, and ensure that both women and men have access to the development opportunities being promoted.

Similarly, the significance of research work to generate technology that helps reduce the workload of women in household and farm activities are explicitly recognized by the Ninth Plan. It also emphasizes the need to identify and recommend such technologies that will be easily accepted by women farmers. In order to address the issue of mainstreaming gender in agriculture, APP has formulated the following specific strategies:

• Inclusion of women in water users' groups
  
• Increment the number of women in training directed at the organization and management of irrigation systems
  
• Design technology that will help reduce the workload of women for household and labor activities
  
• Increase employment of women extension agents and professionals to reach women farmers
  
• Provision of a high rate of subsidy on irrigation loans to women
  

International Development Enterprises/Nepal (IDE/N), is a unit of a US based international non-profit organization which develops and markets low cost technologies that help farmers to enhance their income by increasing farm productivity. IDE has been working in villages of Palpa district of western Nepal since 1998 with a view to helping small farmers, particularly women, to improve their lives by increasing their income through high value vegetable production. IDE motivated farmers to form self-help groups for cultivation of micro-irrigation technology. IDE promoted the idea that each family member's contribution should be valued and benefits should be equitably shared. Keeping these strategies in the frontline, IDE focused on three major activities: capacity building of farmers, particularly women, groups; promotion of increased vegetable production; creation of linkages between private entrepreneurs and commercial groups for marketing purpose. Working with several women groups, IDE motivated them by providing several training. A courses including the installation of kits, seed preservation, vegetable cultivation and protection with a special focus on organic farming.

Mainly due to scarcity of water, there were very few households that used to cultivate vegetables before the intervention of the IDE project. There was a massive boom in vegetable production after the IDE intervention, as spring water was channeled to the villages due the project. Women adopters of the micro-irrigation technology are now regarded as commercial vegetables producers. Earlier, they had no productive work to do and used to assist in household agriculture as unpaid laborers. With the help of IDE, villagers are able to irrigate land that was previously rainfed and, as a result, used to remain fallow outside the monsoon.

In depth analysis of a daily routine diagram revealed that women's workload has been reduced due to adoption of technology. Previously, women used to fetch water from long distances. They used to spend 1.5-2 hours fetching water and another 1.5-2 hours irrigating fields. Now, up to 75% of this drudgery has been reduced because of the nature of the technology. They no longer have to irrigate manually due to the new technolosy. Women can utilize this saved time for productive purposes, as these women did in reality, by forming self-help groups and operating saving-credit accounts. This kind of innovation will help rural illiterate women to move forward, know their rights, realize their potentials and raise voice whenever necessary.

With the help of vegetable production, not only have these rural women been able to secure their own and their family's nutritional intake, but also they have become financially strong. Organic cultivation practices, improved cultivation with the use of better seed quality, proper use of fertilizer among other innovations, have led to better productivity and better food security. Better cultivation practices, and improved water savings through the use of micro-irrigation leads to a more sustainable use of natural resources.

In my view, here is no longer a need to do more paperwork in formulating policies or creating attractive programs or strategies for implementation. I believe enough work has been done in this respect. The key to success relies on proper implementation of these policies and programs. This experience gives us a lesson that if a cost-effective, easy-to-operate and maintain, less labor intensive, gender sensitive and environment-friendly technology is introduced, it can have positive impact on both human livelihood and sustainable use of natural resources.

Introduction:

Many early civilizations have flourished on river banks and perished in river floods. Water is an essential resource for not only Human life but also flora and fauna. Water water everywhere! On the contrary there is no water to drink. Water has become politicized and commercialized nowadays. Multinational corporations exploit water to prepare soft drinks and for profit making. For the lack of water, the lives of poor millions, especially, the so called poorest of poor Indian women face acute problems in their daily lives.

India receives an annual rainfall 852mm of which a quarter goes to the sea and the rest falls on the surface. Erratic rain fall and poor water management, including relentless ground water extraction had led to water scarcity.

Water Problems:
Water is the main source of everything. If there is no food, we can live for many days but if there is no water we cannot live for even a few days. In India, women are not only carry out housework but are also involved in breadwinning for the entire family. If she goes to work, she loses access to water. If she retrieves water, she loses a day's wages. So the water problem becomes a woman's problem. In Salem District, 370,000 people live. A person needs 83 litres of water for drinking and cleaning herself or himself. A woman has to find water for the entire family's needs i.e., cooking, washing and cleaning. In rural areas, potable drinking water is scares. In order to search and fetch water, women have to walk more than two kilometres for one or two pots of water. If she is a dalit woman, she faces the multiple problems of fetching water, while facing some times abuse by high caste people. This is because the water resources i.e. wells, bore wells, also belong to the upper caste.

With all the above difficulties, if she fetches a pot of water, if would not be enough to meet her personal as well as domestic needs. Last year, the Salem district received 11cm of rainfall. During this season, an acute water shortage took place. In the Salem district, 70 to 80 crore litters of water is wasted and simply falls into the gutter. Unsafe and contaminated drinking water leads to many contagious sicknesses, such as, malaria, diarrhea and jaundice and so on. Due to the scarcity of water, families are unable to maintain personal cleanliness and hygienic problems occur. During menstruation women face multiple health related problems like virginal diseases, bleeding, white discharge, urinary and reproductive track infections, ultimately leading to mental sickness as well. World Health Organisation claimed women should be clean and hygienic during her menstruation period.

In rural areas, women are not using any sanitary napkins. They use ordinary clothes during the time of menstruation. Every time they have to wash, dry and change them. Since, there is a scarcity of water, she is unable to wash her clothes properly. Because of this situation, she faces health problems. When she is unclean, she can not go to work at nearby houses. Moreover, she is not allowed to do other housework as it is considered a defilement.

In the village, men, women and children attend nature's call in the open. After passing stools, they unable to wash themselves. Instead, they use small pebbles to wipe themselves. This also leads to bacterial and skin diseases. Therefore, water scarcity has forced women to face major problems in their daily lives. Lack of water also is a problem for food preparation. In that case, women are victims because they have to feed their children and the entire family.

Unequal water distribution leads to conflicts with neighbouring family.

Water contaminated by agriculture pesticides and industry make it unsuitable for other applications as well. Vested interest-politicians and entrepreneurs exploit water in urban areas. The municipal administration is responsible for supplying water to the urban population. Unfortunately, they do not have any clear policy concerning water for their citizens. This in turn leads to malpractice and mismanagement of water. Water has been sold to restaurants and hotels and some times for construction purposes.

Conclusion:
Water, the main source of life has not been privatised. Nobody has the right to own water. Women's participation has to be ensured at all levels of water distribution policy and towards other water related issues. We borrowed these water resources from our children and we have to return them intact.

Land, fuel and raw materials are greatly valued in Singapore, a country without any natural resource. Because of the high population density compounded by small water catchment areas, Singapore cannot produce enough fresh water to satisfy both residential and commercial needs. In the future, this problem will worsen given the projected increase in water demand.

Concerning water conservation, households in Singapore are taxed incrementally for their water usage. The more they use, the more they will be taxed at a higher percentage of their water core. Commercial companies especially manufacturing plants are supplied with non-portable water when possible. The launch of "water-efficient homes" in 2003 including the use of non-dripping taps and the installation of water saving devices is also a big step towards cutting down on common water wastage in households. Public awareness about the importance of water is raised through water conservation campaigns.

In recent years, there have been arguments between Singapore and Malaysia over the pricing of water. Moreover, Malaysia will have to meet its own domestic demands before exporting water to Singapore. There may be a possibility that Malaysia may not extend the contract to supply water to Singapore. As such, an alternative water source has been found. NEWater is a common term heard in Singapore. It is the name given to portable water recycled from sewages through stringent process of micro-filtration and reverse osmosis. Initially, the public is skeptical of it because it is recycled from sewage. However, NEWater has now begun to enjoy public acceptance.

Concerning water, how are women related to this topic? Recently, women in Singapore literally have had less contact with water. With the rise of women in the working society, males and females both share common household chores like laundry and cooking.

Olivia Lum is the founder and CEO of Hyflux Ltd, a publicly listed company in Singapore. Hyflux is currently the regional leader in water treatment systems with a market capitalization of S$450 million. Her company uses cutting-edge technology to produce equipment for high-end water treatment. A specific product worthy of mention is the DragonflyTM, which produces pure drinking water through the absorption of moisture from the atmosphere. While cost will be high and perhaps prohibitive for many, the water solutions that Hyflux currently produces will bode well in the future when an economy of scale is developed.

Olivia Lum epitomizes the direction in which women will go. Traditionally, politics in Singapore are male dominated and as such, national policies and decision-making regarding water issues are made by males. As we step into the New Economy, we now have more women in the professional sector than ever before. From being mere users of water, women have embarked on new routes to tackle water issues through commercial means as innovators, engineers and product developers. Women may or may not play a greater role than men concerning water issues. It is certain, however, that they will increasingly play a larger role.

With the steps taken by the government and the increasing contributions from women, there is a conviction that water issues will not be a hindrance for Singapore economic growth.

The imbalance between supply and demand is currently solved by importing water from Malaysia. However, not only is having sufficient fresh water important, it is equally important to have a secure long-term supply freshwater. The government recognizes this and has taken a two-pronged strategy to ensure the conservation of water conserved and a sufficient long-term water supply.

In Korea, designated as a water-starved nation by the UN, various attempts have recently been carried out to evoke water conservation. The Association of Environmental Preservation under the Ministry of Environment is making tours mainly of elementary schools with traveling environmental classrooms. There classroom are remodeled trucks to teach children the importance of water. The back of a truck becomes a mini theater, and children can learn about water through images there. Children step on the back of a truck with great interest because they can watch films on it. After the film, experiments on water contamination get started on the school ground. Children learn how water is contaminated with milk and scraps of dumped food. They also learn how water is cleaned through real-life experience.

Caregivers of a kindergarten in Seoul are making environmental newspapers to encourage kindergarteners and their families to be more conscious about the environment. In the classroom, children are taught not to waste food and only serve themselves what they can consume. Also they are taught to stop the water while brushing their teeth; gargle with stored water in a cup, and save water while washing hands with stored water in a wash bowl.

Some children doing water-conservation activities in their kindergarten advise their parents about how to use water at home. Like this kindergarten, the movement to teach children the importance of water from an early age, and work on environmental problems together with children, school, and families as a whole has gradually expanded.

Although Korea is designated as a water-starved nation, there is never a lack of rainfall in Korea. From late June through July, there is a rainy season like in Japan. Consequently, the activities to take advantage of such rain water are gradually becoming fashionable.
Galmoi Elementary School in Uiwang City built an underground tank to store rainwater and use it for watering plants and cleaning. Also, Sorak Junior High School in Gyeonggi Province implements environmental experience activities as related coursework seven times annually. Through group discussion, some students analyze activity content. Some groups inspect water quality and research the life of creatures in a river in cooperation with experts. Other groups work on projects to encourage general citizens to be aware of environmental problems through clean up and distribution of leaflets together with local environmental organizations.

The Ministry of Environment built a web site called KEED (Korea Environmental Education Database, http://keed.net) in 2003. This site was produced, aimed at providing various environmental education programs to teachers in schools and environmental activities. The site introduces many programs including an activity site and the required time for a designated activity that can be used in the field of education. In Korea, environmental education due to the involvement of the government, educators and environmental organizations is expected to become more popular in future.

A few months before, Khodeza Begum could not think about getting free time. Most of her time was wasted for routine water collection in a far-flung area. She had to walk miles, as there was hardly safe water sources nearly. For her, a miracle happened after the installation of Rain-water Harvest plant in her courtyard.

It makes safe water supply easier than before and lessens the burden of Khodeza's daily work. Thanks to the NGO Forum for Drinking Water Supply and Sanitation, an apex body of NGOs working in WatSan sector, who introduced the Rain-water Harvest System (RWHS) in Kalabaria, a village situated in the southern part of Bangladesh.

After the installation, Khadiza's traditional responsibilities shifted towards safe water preservation, quality maintenance and ensuring proper use in her day-to-day activities. She is now more aware of rainwater recycling method, its preservation as well as checking its misuse. Khodeza free time makes many of these productive works possible. Now as one of the one-third members of Village Development Committee VDC, she carries water responsibilities with more efficiency.

A rural woman is using rainwater for her child from the harvesting plant set up at her courtyard in the southeastern part of Bangladesh.

Khodeza came to know about the RWHS after her husband attended a community meeting and become member of VDC, both the outcome of the NGO Forum's community managed programme, started in Kalabaria in 2000. The baseline survey of the apex body found the village, situated at the foothill of Chandranath hill of Sitakunda upazila of Chittagong district, with a poor safe water supply and sanitation, the major social indicators of human development. Water-borne diseases were very common in that area.

Bangladesh, with a 114 million population, is threatened in generally unsafe drinking water supply after the widespread detection of arsenic contamination. Arsenic causes a severe health hazard and slowing the ongoing development work in the WatSan sector.

On the contrary, government revised the national policy for safe water supply and sanitation reviewing this trend and the nature of problems in the sector several times. The country observes the International Drinking Water Supply and Sanitation Decade the government of Bangladesh as well as more than 50 NGOs are involvement in WatSan sector.

After two years programme, the NGO Forum finds hundred percent success in ensuring safe water supply and sanitation which is the result of participatory method of its community-managed programme. The Forum with the help of two other NGOs -- Society for Health Extension and Development, SHED and Young Power in Social Action YPSA -- enrich their programmes through motivational initiative like involving VDC, community members, professionals, local governments, religious leaders as well as youths.

In the VCD, one-third women participation also helps water management and its distribution become more manageable. During different community meetings, they identify the problem of water as well as disseminate the innovative approaches in rainwater harvest, preservation and multiple uses among other members. After two-years, NGO Forum finds also success in areas like health, good governance and micro-credit programmes.

The NGO Forum claims that for the association of local potential persons like union parisad chairman, local government bodies as well as local young clubs have brought big success for the programme. They constantly watch the quality of rainwater, identify the water problems and try to find solutions within their capacity. Women also played their due roles during courtyard meetings, organized in each and every para which helped them in manage the safe water and control the water-borne sufferings. .


Samia Begum, a VDC member, says, initially it was thought that the community-managed WatSan programme would be a programme of NGO Forum and its partners but after participation in few meetings, she finds that the programme is more for the villagers. She like many other villagers now feel the ownership of the programme and receive the benefits of safe water supply.

ABSTRACT Since 2001, an irrigation project has conducted research in several provinces and then provided necessary information from a gender perspective. Until now, there have been 5 provinces involved East Java, Central Java, West Java, Special District of Jogjakarta, and South Sulawesi. Although there are unique provinces in their own way, they refused at first to involve women in the irrigation project. As an example, in Situbondo regency, they initially rejected the idea of involving women in irrigation activities, which they considered uncommon and "illegal". Finally accepted them and joined the program. The Bupati's wife, also chief of the local women association of Situbondo, supported the program enthusiastically. She even recommended that sub-district and village heads as well as their wives involvement in irrigation socialization program in their districts. In Pehngaron, Mojokerto regency, the Farmer Association of Water-users has achieved great progress by winning in the 2002 national irrigation contest. In East Java and West Java, irrigation from a gender perspective is finally well addressed. The change is that those women are partially involved in organization management and irrigation activities. Finally, they are aware that irrigation is not only men's responsibility but also women's.



The implementation of the irrigation project in Indonesia has somewhat changed gender behavior. This is interesting because irrigation, which used to be men's job, now has become one of women's jobs.
Since 2001, the irrigation project has conducted research in several provinces, followed by the provision of necessary information from a gender perspective. The opening of new areas for industrial factories and settlement caused a decrease in the water-supply, i.e. ±30%. So the new constitution USSDA No.7.2004 not only regulates irrigation problems but it also handles more complex ones, such as, water resources, water supply and the distribution of drinking water.

Until now, there have been five provinces --East Java, Central Java, West Java, Special District of Jogjakarta and South Sulawesi used as samples for the dissemination of information related to irrigation problems and activities. These provinces each have their own unique points. However, at first, all of them refused to involve women in the irrigation project.

Although the Situbondo regency first rejected the idea of involving women in irrigation activities, which they considered uncommon and "illegal", they finally allowed women to join the program. The Bupati's wife, being the chief of the local women's association of Situbondo, also supported the program enthusiastically. She even recommended that sub-district heads, village heads and their wives become involved and push irrigation program in their districts. The sudden change is very obvious. After receiving the necessary information, women started hoeing and irrigating their own rice fields. They also became partially involved in organization management.

In Pehngaron, Mojokerto regency, the Farmer Association of Water-Users has achieved great progress by winning in the 2002 national irrigation contest. One change, which is really felt, is that women are now partially involved in organization management and irrigation activities. And they are fully aware that there should be no garbage disposal into irrigation canals.

In the Central Java province, namely, Magelang and Tumenggung regencies have a greater chance for a better future because cooperation between local government staff and farmers is good. Gender presence in the irrigation area is well responded to. The latest development shows women's involvement has changed from±5% to 23.8%. In addition, there are five women who are involved in management. The activities shared by women are --irrigating their rice fields, controlling and maintaining irrigations and preparing food for workers in the fields.

In West Java, the case is similar to that in Central Java, namely in Majalengka and Tasikmalaya regencies where women have been involved in irrigation activities. Yet, this has not been publicly admitted. After growing rice, and while wating for the harvest, their husbands usually go to city to work. It is during this time that the wives take care of the fields: weeding and irrigating. It is clear then that women share their husbands' jobs in the fields. The women's participation related to irrigation activities is: distributing water in field beds (13.7%); cleaning garbage in the canals (11.8%); paying contribution for P3A (27.5%); irrigating the fields(5.9%) and attending meetings (5.9%).

The picture is different in South Sulawesi, i.e. the Goa and Pinrang regencies. Whereas in the beginning they were only involved in preparing food for the family workers, women in these areas are now involved actively in many aspects of life including the irrigation program. They play a role in managing and organizing (+8.33%); maintaining the drainage system (16.87%); collecting contributions (37.5%) and delegating authority in P3A (8.33%). However, the presence of a gender perspective in the irrigation process receives a good response both from the local government as well as farmers. The women's role in seeding and harvesting as compared to men is 50%-50%.

In the special district of Yogyakarta, involving women in irrigation activities is difficult, because they consider that (1) the business of irrigation is susceptible to conflicts and women are considered to be unable to solve the problems, (2) women are already burdened with domestic activities. However, men and women famers should realize that irrigation is their responsibility.

I live in Kyrgyzstan, a small mountainous country with a population of 5 million.

Kyrgyzstan is located in Central Asia and has common borders with Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan. Our countries have also had many common challenges during the decade--a long period of transition to a market economy. Kyrgyzstan has very rich water resources--lakes, glaciers, mountain rivers, springs and underground water. Water has many dimensions for Kyrgyzstan. It is used as energy resource, irrigation of agricultural fields, industry and personal consumption. Having a lot of fresh and ecologically pure water, people in Kyrgyzstan face many challenges in accessing water. The problem is not the lack of water, but the poor water management at various levels. Traditionally, during several decades we used to have quite good sanitary norms and standards for drinking water. The poverty of the last decade has led to a decrease and loss in the quality of water management facilities for drinking and irrigation. Water facilities have deteriorated tremendously. There is an increase in such diseases like virus hepatitis, typhoid and diarrhea. Access to safe drinking water remains a key development issue in the densely populated Ferghana Valley, shared by Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. Around 60 percent of the 10 million people in the valley have no safe water supply. About only 70 % of Uzbekistan was provided with safe water (Report on the Status of Women in Uzbekistan, 1999). In places with inefficient or absent water infrastructure, the burden of bringing heavy water containers from a far distance is on women. Very often in a village, there is only one water standpipe for the whole area. Women's workload increases because in our society, cooking, washing, childcare and care of the elderly are all considered to be women's work. All of these responsibilities require water. At the same time, this work is unpaid home work. Women are the invisible victims of a poor water management system.

Water is not a problem in Kyrgyzstan and at the same time, it is a huge problem. Having water resources has not led to meeting people's water needs. Our pure ecological drinking water may be an excellent export product. But at this moment, even the local population does not have water at a satisfactory level. Water is also a source of danger to people's health. Why? Because the water management system and its facilities need investment and proper maintenance. Kyrgyzstan with its tiny budget is unable to maintain effective water management system. Rivers and lakes are polluted by anthropogenesis and natural sources. People who suffer from a lack of access to fresh drinking water are not investing much of their time and energy to solve the problem. There are, however, local initiatives, supported by external donors, to address this issue. Among them is a women's NGO in the Djalal-Abad province of Kyrgyzstan "Kairymdyluk", Central Asian Alliance for Water. With the CAAW project in the village of Yambarak, the situation changed immensely after the CAAW built a water supply system there in 2002. ''The number of cases of diseases is going down yearly and in 2003 there has not been any cases''. Ecological NGOs raise their concerns about water pollution (Green Women, Environment Protection Foundation of Kyrgyzstan). Recognition of water issues as part of the national poverty reduction program is an important step.

Destroyed water infrastructure is now being reconstructed. Let me give you one example. According to the UN report (2003) based on the survey of target villages in Kyrgyzstan, 27 % of internationally funded projects for rehabilitation of social-economic facilities were focused on water management facilities. This percentage shows the depth of the water problem. Local rural people can not bear themselves the full costs of radical repair of drinking and irrigation water facilities. This makes people highly vulnerable and dependent on external assistance. From a gender perspective, the water issue is closely connected to the increased exploitation of women at home. A specially disadvantaged group is the rural poor women. Poverty doubles the burden of deteriorated health caused by the lack of fresh drinking water. Poor families do not have money for proper medical diagnosis and treatment.

Kyrgyzstan has enough water for producing hydroelectric power. At the same time, in many villages and towns, people lack access to fresh drinking water, and water for irrigation they also experience frequent cuts in electricity. Naryn is a province town near the biggest hydro electro station in Kyrgyzstan. During the whole year, people are limited to several hours of electricity. Who suffers the most in families? Definitely women do because of their domestic roles. Women actually suffer from the intersection of poverty, patriarchal traditions and low access to decision making. Women's perspectives and experiences are not reflected in many country's programs and projects. Their voices and experiences are not heard and taken into consideration because women comprise only 7 - 10 % of major national, political and economic decision makers in Kyrgyzstan.

Once again I would like to say that having enough natural water does not automatically lead to an efficient water management system. It is strategically important to incorporate women's experiences, perspectives and vision into decision making on water issues. Last year's experience in Central Asia showed that civil society organizations and women's NGOs play key roles in the mobilization of the population to address community needs concerning wate