Women participation in public works in Tanzania: case studies
Ndaki, Z.S.
RVB Research Papers, Netherlands International Institute for Management 8(4): 11-24
1988
Document Number: 553962
The nature and implications of Labour Intensive Public Works Programme (LIPWP) project operations are reviewed in relation to the socioeconomic structure. The factors/forces that impede women's participation in view of the sociocultural characteristics of women in the project areas were identified and analysed. After brief reviews of Tanzanian rural women, a socioeconomic profile of target group women is provided. Next, the level of women's participation, the constraining factors and their level of influence are discussed for various projects under LIPWP: afforestation, irrigation/flood control, rural road construction, housing and water supply. Two case studies are then presented of Mto-wa-Mbu irrigation/flood control programme in Arusha and Rukwa water supply project. Findings in both case studies reveal the existence of substantial salient features that have a great influence on the level of female participation. In Mto-wa-Mbu, the flood control project received relatively good participation by women because such projects have benefits that are tangible and easily visualized by the residents in the project areas. In general, all projects are influenced by sociocultural beliefs affecting female participation. These include common beliefs that women cannot tackle highly physical tasks; they should spend most of their time on domestic upkeep and family care; they should not be outspoken in the community; and thus, should not be involved in the planning and selection forum.