Uzbekistan Country Gender Assessment: Update

GAP Progress Report: Uzbekistan Water Resources Management Sector Project (Loans 2492 and 2493). 
tashkent; adB. 2015. 
GAP Progress Report: Uzbekistan Water Resources Management Sector Project (Loans 2492 and 
2493). 
tashkent; adB. 2016. 
GAP Progress Report: Uzbekistan Water Resources Management Sector Project (Loans 2492 
and 2493). 
tashkent; and adB. 2017.
 GAP Progress Report: Uzbekistan Water Resources Management Sector Project (Loans 
2492 and 2493). 
tashkent.

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Mainstreaming Gender in ADB Operations, by Sector
31
Box 5: Water Supply and Sanitation in the Andijan region—Outcomes
of the Gender Action Plan
Female respondents to the survey for this country gender assessment (CGa) update who 
reside in multistory dwellings in andijan city confirmed the positive effect of water supply and 
sanitation interventions. Most live in extended families, with up to four married sons staying with 
their parents in the same apartment.
previously, continuous water supply was available only 2–3 hours a day, and pressure was 
insufficient to reach the upper floors. Families accumulated water in their bathtubs and 
different containers. Maintaining decent sanitary conditions in the home and performing 
regular household chores, all connected to water consumption, was a burdensome challenge for 
women. One woman said, the woman is a duck. She cannot live without water.
Once the water supply improved, there was running water in the kitchen and respondents 
started using washing machines. Morbidity also decreased noticeably among children and other 
family members.
In some buildings, women began growing ornamental plants and flowers in front of their houses. 
the time saved from water burdens allowed some women to start micro and small enterprises 
(e.g., embroidery, sewing, pastry-baking businesses), and they began investing in self-education 
and the education of their younger children. In local pre-schools, sustainable indoor bathroom 
and toilet facilities dramatically improved sanitary conditions.
Female staff of the Suvokava/Vodokanal branch in andijan city pointed out that the installation 
of the latest water purification technologies and laboratory equipment has dramatically 
improved water quality. the new pumping equipment generates considerable energy savings. 
Conflicts with Suvokava water consumers have drastically decreased. previously, consumers had 
to pay the costs of water even when supply was inconsistent.
Source: adB. 2014.
 Multitranche Financing Facility: Water Supply and Sanitation Project in Uzbekistan (Loans 
2825; 3064, Tranche 3, completed in 2014; and $58 million Tranche 4, completed in March 2018). 
Manila.
7. Lessons Learned
points to consider in future WSS project design including conducting a baseline survey to 
obtain sex-disaggregated data on school attendance in relation to water supply challenges 
(e.g., the effects of girls’ responsibility to provide households with water); households’ level of 
expenditure on treatment and medicines; and the level of morbidity among the population that 
relates directly to safe water use and supply.
In 2017, reforms in the water sector led to a reduction in the number of gender focal points 
(GFps). Because GFps provided key information about the project, the reduction hampered the 
implementation of the Gap.

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32
Uzbekistan Country Gender Assessment Update
Box 6: Water resource Management Project—Outcomes of the Gender Action Plan
the number of women farmers increased by 30%–60%, and established female-headed farms created over 
5,000 seasonal jobs for women in the Namangan, Samarkand, and Fergana regions.
Significantly, women farmers profit increased 37% per hectare. their average profit margin is higher compared 
to men farmers.
Most farms produce, process, and market fruits and vegetables (apricots, apples, peaches, cherries, tomatoes, 
cucumbers, garlic, onion, greens, etc.), as well as dairy products. project interventions increased the 
productivity of these farms by an average 10%–30%, increasing household incomes and decreasing the number 
of low-income people. It also led to time savings (up to 3 hours/day) for fetching water for gardens and plots.
a
Most women in the project area started their own businesses by establishing greenhouses and gardening plots.
the rate of female participation in water consumers associations increased from 3.5% to 7.6% (22 women in 
2015 compared to 5 female staff in 2013). additionally, in 2015 the number of women in management bodies 
of such associations increased 50% compared to 2014.
the project reduced the number of water conflicts. For years, women farmers suffered from the lack of 
irrigation and spent up to 2 days in water queues, often with conflict between upstream and downstream 
farmers and farmers of neighboring plots.
Rehabilitated pump stations improved the environment and reduced allergies among women and children.
a hygiene baseline survey, conducted in target schools
b
by the project management unit at the project startup 
stage, showed that low access to clean water and the issues of wastewater, sanitation, and hygiene were acute 
in beneficiary communities.
In a follow-up survey, a collaboration between state and non-state actors presented a unique opportunity 
for social partnership. the multi-level scheme consists of three types of informal associations, resulting in 
successful implementation of set quotas for women’s participation in all interventions by the gender action 
plan.
c 
a
adB. 2017.