Women in Human Settlements Development: Getting the Issues Right

THIS SHORT PUBLICATION argues that women remain largely invisible in research and statistics on human settlements development, and what little relevant information does exist is seldom used to inform policy making. For instance, sectoral analyses of water, land and housing in urban areas demonstrate a very high level of involvement of women in activities consistent with their household obligations (i.e. water provisioning, waste disposal, house construction), and yet gender-specific preferences relating to service provision (e.g. the location of standpipes, or timing of waste disposal services) or to housing (type, cost or location) continue to be overlooked in urban development policy. The first two sections set out a case for reorienting human settlements policy to include analysis of women’s roles and interests. Sections on planning and management of human settlements and designing housing argue for the increased participation of local communities in decisions that will affect their well-being. Donor investments are currently being directed towards supporting NGOs and other community organizations to mobilize public support for and participation in environmental improvement programmes, and towards building partnerships between government authorities and urban residents. This section recognizes that many initiatives for environmental improvement at community level, such as neighbourhood clean-up campaigns or waste collection services already draw heavily on labour forces of “volunteer” women. These new approaches therefore need to be informed by the fact that any increased demands on women’s unpaid labour may have adverse consequences. For instance, young girls may be withdrawn from school to assist with domestic tasks if demands on women’s labour increase suddenly. Emphasis is also placed on the need to build up women’s capacities for the higher value community work currently dominated by men (e.g. negotiation with authorities, financial management, or holding key positions within community organizations) as a way of improving the quality of their participation. The publication also looks at housing policy, and the various subtle and overt forms of gender discrimination that can work against the satisfaction of women’s housing needs. The need for more gender disaggregated data on the state of the housing sector is highlighted. The critical issue of housing and land tenure is referred to in a separate section. Although women may have access to housing and land, their rights of ownership or control over property are generally inferior to those of men. Lack of housing or land rights can restrict access to credit which could be used for housing or other environmental improvements, or investment in livelihood activities. Poor female headed households tend to be concentrated in poor quality, informal squatter or slum settlements and often face a continual threat of eviction, which again reduces incentives for investment in infrastructure and services. Secure housing tenure may be particularly important for women who undertake income-generating activities at home. The publication points out the urgent need for legislative changes in favour of equality of tenure rights. More immediately, educating women about their rights in relation to land and property is also vitally important. After a short section on the urban environment, the final two sections set out policy proposals which are ordered thematically, and a series of discussion questions.