Gender and Socially Inclusive Policy Initiatives in Urban Planning in Nepal

Dr. Mahendra Subba Joint Secretary (Urban) Ministry of Physical Planning and Works Nepal
The views expressed in this paper are the views of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the Asian Development Bank ADB), or its Board of Governors, or the governments they represent. ADB does not guarantee the accuracy of the data included in this paper and accepts no responsibility for any consequence of their use. The countries listed in this paper do not imply any view on ADB's part as to sovereignty or independent status or necessarily conform to ADB's terminology.

1. Poverty, Gender Inequality and Social Exclusion: A Perspective

Low female literacy widens gender disparity

Male Age Group
60 +

Female

55-59
50-54 45-49

40-44
35-39 30-34 25-29 20-24 15-19 10-14 6-9
-100 -80 -60 -40 -20 0

20

40

60

80

Women are under-represented in the national stage to set out the course of development Class
Secretary Number

Male
79 (95%)

Female
4 (5%)

Joint Secretary
Under Secretary Section Officer

480 (98%)
2657 (97%) 8017 (92%)

9 (2%)
96 (3%) 655 (8%)

Poverty is more pronounced in certain ethnicity/caste group

Muslim Tarai Janajati Hill Janajati Tarai Dalit Hill Dalit Hill Chettri Newar Tarai Brahman Hill Brahman
0 10 20
National Poverty Rate

30

40

50

Geographical barrier also tends to add to economic disincentives & incidence of poverty

Challenges in urban development

Unbalanced urban growth in terms infrastructure services and facilities Weak rural-urban linkage Environmental deterioration Increasing urban poverty Weak institutional capacity of municipalities in resource mobilization, revenue generation and service delivery Gap in coordination between local bodies and the centre and weak decentralization Lack of clarity in existing urban policies

Emerging urban poverty pattern reveals significant proportion of households closer to poverty line in municipalities
Households
25.9%

Households
26.5%

13.7% 0.5% Non-Poor Vulnerable Group Poor

40.7%

0.75% Non-Poor Vulnerable Group 32.0% Poor Extremely Poor

59.9%

Extremely Poor

Population
25.3% 12.0% 0.4%
40.9%

Population
24.2% 0.73%

62.4%

34.2%

Bharatpur

Ratnanagar

2. Policy and Legal Framework for Gender and Social Inclusion

Government Policy on Urban Development

Historical Evolution Fifth Plan (1975-1980) onset of urban development program and regional development centers no focus on poverty National Shelter Policy 1996 emphasizes housing as a basic need of people and important in poverty reduction National Action Plan on Housing and Urban Development 1996 advocates for reducing urban poverty, enhance employment generation and decentralization Tenth Plan (2002-2007) focuses on urban development, housing and building addresses poverty issues Urban Water Supply and Sanitation Policy (2009) includes provisions for poor

National Urban Policy Framework 2007

Objectives: i) balanced national urban system ii)clean, safe and prosperous urban environment iii) effective urban management by strengthening local bodies Pro-poor provisions Give priority to excluded regions below poverty line in physical infrastructure development and industrial activities Ensure access of poor to cheap housing and land acquisition Implementation of housing and income generation program for the poor and squatter settlements under poverty alleviation program Facilitate access to credit for the poor for housing facility

Housing for the Poor

Janata Awas 3,000 houses built since 2009 Land Development Programs allocates 10% of sales plot for the poor Land acquired for improvement of squatters

The sectoral National Urban Policy 2007 emphasizes balanced national urban system and investment to the lagging regions

National Economic Center

Regional Economic Center Intermediate Growth Center

Population Growth Population in 2001

Taklakot
Simikot

Liji
Kerung
Jomsom Kalikot

Khasa
Kathmandu Valley

Riyu
Khadbari

Rasuwa

Dasarathchand

Pokhara

Gaurifanta Rupedia Nautanuwa

Raxual

Jogbani

National Urban Policy and Gender

The National Urban Policy focuses on poverty and regional disparities but does not directly address gender inequality and social exclusion issues. The national and local governance policies and strategies on GESI are mainstreamed in urban development programs and in the municipalities.

GESI Policy of Ministry of Local Development 2010:

GESI being mainstreamed in municipalities by transformatory social mobilization by creating community level institutional structures like inclusive Ward Citizen Forums and Integrated Planning Committees supported by Social Mobilization Guidelines and Capacity Development Guidelines of Ministry of Local Development Social Units in municipalities facilitate GESI mainstreaming in planning, budgeting, and monitoring

Community Development Programs (CDP) for the Poor and Excluded in Municipalities:
Example: Integrated Urban Development Project Includes activities social mobilization and information, education and communication campaigns with a particular emphasis on health and hygiene education and 3Rs activities small-scale community infrastructure that are community priorities, such as community water taps, public and community toilets, lane and drainage improvement, and community composting facilities community-led total sanitation (CLTS) and/or school-led total sanitation (SLTS) approach skills and entrepreneurship development targeting women, poor and the excluded

Community Development Programs (CDP) for the Poor and Excluded in Municipalities:
Example: Integrated Urban Development Project Community development program in poor areas with genderresponsive approach How: 50% women in REFLECT circles Min. 33% women in committees and in infrastructure selection consultations Womens needs addressed in infrastructure selection and its design; example, separate toilet for women and men 50% are women in skills and entrepreneurship training with need identified for women and men from market assessment Train women as skilled labor in infrastructure

Decentralization: Challenges of weakened governance Fragmented institutional arrangement affecting intergovernmental coordination and impedes service delivery
MPPW GESI unit Sectoral ministry TDC TDF Sectoral Dept MLD

DUDBC

Urban Dev. Proj

DUDBC, Division Office DWSS, Division Office

Municipalities

Urban Development Project Implementation

GESI Policy of Ministry of Physical Planning and Works for Urban Infrastructure Development 2011

Guidelines for Mainstreaming GESI in Infrastructure Sectors: covers roads, urban development and water supply and sanitation sectors GESI Structure and Mechanisms including GESI Unit being established at Ministry of Physical Planning and Works and its Departments (includes Departments of Water Supply and Sanitation, Urban Development and Building Construction and Roads)

Legal Framework and Allocation of Resources (1) Legislation/Guidelines to Promote GESI in Local Bodies Local Self Governance Act (LSGA) 1998: requires local bodies to prepare periodic planprioritizing women, marginalized groups, poor and children Minimum Conditions and Performance Measures (MCPM) 2009: requires municipalities to adopt participatory and inclusive planning including propoor budget to ensure the flow of central grant Gender Responsive Budgeting since 2007-2008 : All line ministries need to follow the guideline however this provision has not been fully trickled down to the operational departments

Legal Framework and Allocation of Resources (2) Legislation/Guidelines to Promote GESI in Local Bodies Block Grant Guidelines for Local Bodies 2011: requires local bodies to allocate 35% budget for targeted program for women (10%), children (10%) and disadvantaged groups (15%) in the areas like public infrastructures (maternity wards in community health centers, school facilities, housing for homeless, water supply, conservation of cultural heritage)

Legal Framework on GESI (3)

Fundamental rights of women for Property Rights: Interim Constitution 2006 acknowledges GESIto remove structural inequality Equal rights of daughters like sons to the parental property 35% rebate policy for women in land ownership registration Fundamental rights of equality in Representation : Affirmative action for women, dalits, janajatis, madhesis and other marginalized groups total 45% seat reservation (women 33%) in civil service by amended Civil Service Act 2007 Requirement of 33% "women" Constituent Assembly member Policy of 33% women representation in states all decision making levels

China Quarter, Ward 1, Hetauda Municipality

Inclusive Planning: Urban/Poverty Mapping provides valuable information on intensity and distribution of povertyand enables prepare community development action plan/program

Inclusive Planning: Disadvantaged Group Mapping helps to identify area with poverty and gender and social exclusion issues by using the criteria of:

food sufficiency dalit, janajati concentration area school enrolment community health womens participation in decision making process disaster related vulnerability

Inclusive Planning: Municipality Periodic Planning

Participatory and inclusive nature of PP allows citizens to decide on the vital policy issues including MDGs, DRM and its localization

Inclusive Planning: Municipal Periodic Planning Ward level interactions

Allows identification and prioritization of neighborhood problems and have voices of underprivileged groups heard

Thank you !