The SEI-US Water Group has been supporting water managers around the world in their planning and decisions making processes using the Water Evaluation And Planning (WEAP) software (Yates et al., 2005). WEAP allows water manager to evaluate long-term planning options under climate change and other risks using scenario analysis. As part of the Gender and Social Equity (G&SE) program, WEAP modelers from the SEI-US Water Group started examining the ways to incorporate G&SE aspects in this model and in project activities. This process started with the development of a survey to WEAP model users around the world asking if they were currently considering gender and social equity in their work. Only 7% of over 200 responses said yes. The survey also asked if gender and social equity aspects should be included in the modeling activities, and 88% agreed (Stockholm Environment Institute, 2016).
From the survey and interviews with female modelers, a list of the challenges was identified in incorporating GSE aspects in models. These challenges are: i) lack of quantitative data, ii) lack of recognition of GSE issues, iii) lack of convincing scientific evidence, iv) lack of analytical tools and v) low prioritization of interest. The survey and interviews were the basis for the development of a guidance document responding to those challenges, in particular to the lack of analytical tools.
This guidance includes recommended steps in mainstreaming G&SE in model based projects focusing on three main aspects: i) integrating gender into technical work, ii) being inclusive in trainings and project activities to have more female active participation, iii) using projects as opportunities to gather data.
