Gender Equality Results Case Studies

Two projects in Sri Lanka employed participatory approaches, bringing key stakeholders together and facilitating women's involvement---the North East Coastal Community Development Project which was aimed to improve sustainable livelihood and natural resource management in poor coastal communities, and Component B of the Tsunami-Affected Areas Rebuilding Project, which was designed to provide an emergency response to urgent post-tsunami reconstruction challenges. This case study looks at the gender dimensions of two projects that focus on the community development component that advocated community participation, social inclusion, and gender equality in community infrastructure development and livelihood restoration processes in targeted communities.

This publication is part of the commitment of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to document gender equality results in its operations. It presents case studies in ADB priority sectors: urban development, rural infrastructure, and education. The case studies provide an overview of gender issues, design features, and implementation arrangements that contributed to achieving gender-related targets in six ADB projects.

Women in Nepal have long experienced poverty, social exclusion, and marginalization because of their gender, especially among ethnic minorities and low-caste groups. Between 2002 and 2013, the Asian Development Bank and the Government of Nepal developed and implemented the Gender Equality and Empowerment of Women Project to reduce poverty by empowering rural women and members of other disadvantaged groups through an integrated process of economic, social, legal, and political empowerment. This publication presents the case study of that project which contributed to Nepal's drive to eradicate gender-based inequality.

Reliable supply of 24-hour electricity in the State of Madhya Pradesh since 2014 has transformed the lives of many, including women from low-income households. An Asian Development Bank project validates how women can be empowered through capacity development in efficient use of electricity and energy-based enterprises, and provision of business development services. The case study builds up on the project progress so far, showcasing women who, along with their sense of personal empowerment, have increased their incomes and savings through microenterprises. The case study reaffirms that a steady supply of electricity, coupled with capacity development, helps create an arena where men and women are accorded equal participation in business opportunities.

This publication presents stories that showcase how improved connectivity has transformed lives---especially of women and girls---in rural communities of India. It presents the contributions of the Asian Development Bank's Rural Connectivity Investment Program (RCIP) in five states: Assam, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, and West Bengal. Enhanced connectivity has improved people's quality of life in the five RCIP states and contributed to a range of socioeconomic benefits for the rural communities served. It has also helped advance development goals central to sustainable and inclusive growth.

This case study examines the gender aspects of the Infrastructure Development Investment Program for Tourism in Himachal Pradesh and Punjab. The program has contributed to economic growth, and provides evidence of the capacity of gender-responsive tourism development to promote community participation in tourism and enhance the status of women. This report looks at results in three areas: human capital and economic empowerment, the creation of spaces for women's voices to be heard, and the promotion of equal rights. The case study affirms that a gender-inclusive design, coupled with effective implementation, gives women and men equal access to project benefits.