Building with the community : engineering projects to meet the needs of both men and women

Engineers and technicians working on development projects are becoming more and more aware of the need for the participation of poor local people in their projects, women in particular. These often-excluded groups have to be involved closely at all stages of the project cycle. Women's participation has a special emphasis, because women do not only form the greatest proportion of the poor, but also on average are poorer than men. Practical steps can be taken to alter engineering design to suit the needs of women. Engineers can enhance the status of women and other excluded groups by the way they manage projects.
This booklet explains in a comprehensive way how and why engineers should involve both men and women in infrastructure projects, the policy changes necessary and how to put a special emphasis on women's participation. It introduces ways in which engineers and technicians can ensure their projects to focus on the needs of poor men and women. It provides an introduction to engineers and technicians who have not covered some of the social issues before, and is useful for managers who do understand these issues but are seeking ways to tackle these.