Dear Colleagues,

It so quiet at GATNET…

To answer Pri’s questions, namely: What are the priority actions we want the World Bank to take, to

  1. Realign World Bank development support (section 5.1)
  2. Realign World Bank approach (section 5.2)

5.1 Realigning development support

The word “gender” should be added in subtitle 5,which currently reads: “Widen the application of key social and environmental issues” on p27. Particular attention should also be given to gender in all aspects of the Bank’s interventions.

5.2 Realigning the Bank’s approach

Under E: Consolidate and improve the sharing of transport knowledge, one of the proposed “authoritative and operationally-oriented” annual publications on a core issue of transport in development to be sponsored by the Bank, should be devoted to gender and transport.

5.3 Transport sector targets 2007-2015

One of the targets should be able to measure to what extent WB interventions are addressing gender gaps/concerns in the transport sector. In as far as possible, the targets should be gender sensitive (asking for too much, I know).  But if the Bank adopts gender-responsive budgeting then monitoring how much goes to the prioritized interventions/activities to be defined under 5.4 below.

5.4 Next Steps

A (resource and) time-bound gender action plan should be developed, defining priority interventions/activities to be undertaken over the Strategy period.  This is where I suggest we include some of the issues which do not fit (neatly) into the Strategy – I know we run a danger of these being marginalized but at the same time, not everything we would like to be incorporated can be incorporated.

Resources

We should point out the following resources (in addition to those already highlighted by Margaret and Marinke), which provide empirical evidence of inter alia, the feasibility of, as well as the value added “doing gender”; some of the lessons learnt as well as documented good practices.

  1. The 10 case studies, in nine countries, commissioned by the Bank in 2003: Integrating Gender into World Bank Financed Transport Programs: Case Studies:
  2. Jeff Turner’s summary of the 10 case studies – the recommendations
  3. IFRTD case studies on women and transport in Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Philippines and Sri Lanka
  4. Summaries of the GATNET virtual discussion conducted in May/June 2005 organised by the International Forum for Rural Transport Development (IFRTD) and the Transport Research Board (TRB) Women’s Committee.
  5. Case studies on the impact of bicycles and other intermediate means of transport components on women´s mobility -(i.e. Malmberg)

Best Regards

Nite