Oxfam Mekong Regional Water Governance program developed Gender Impact Assessment (GIA) manual Balancing the scales: Using gender impact assessment in hydropower development.
The GIA manual is designed for use by hydropower and consulting companies involved in social and environmental impact assessments on dams.
It is a resource that provides basic tools to incorporate gender impact assessment more comprehensively into dam project cycles. It will help identify and manage risk to avoid the possibility of dam projects adding to discrimination and marginalization of women.
The GIA manual promotes a six-step gender impact assessment process for each dam project:
1. Gather discrete data on communities
2. Understand the nuanced context within communities (e.g. power relations in communities)
3. Identify issues around the proposed project (know the project, its scope, and predict its impact: hydrology, infrastructure, and potential downstream impacts)
4. Understand women’s needs and aspirations (through participatory approaches involving women)
5. Develop a gender strategy and action plan
6. Review, audit and respond