Friday, May 20th, 2005

Gender Mainstreaming in Infrastructure Development

The World Bank experience of integrating gender in operations.

The Japan Bank for International Cooperation's Sector Strategy Development Department co-organized a videoconference with World Bank ESSD and the TDLC on learning from the World Bank's approach to gender integration of investment projects, particularly infrastructure development.

Washington, Bangkok, and Tokyo connected to raise awareness of gender issues and to share knowledge and experiences these aspects of development operations. The seminar was presented with case studies from Bangladesh and Indonesia.

In Tokyo about 30 representatives from JBIC and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) participated. Joining from Washington were Mr. Reidar Kvam from the World Bank, Coordinator for social analysis, Social Development Department; Ms. Wendy Wakeman, the bank's Senior Operations Officer, PREM Gender Unit; Ms. Jessica Hughes, Junior Professional Associate, PREM Gender Unit; and Ms. Rakhi Basu, Transport Specialist at the bank's East Asia Transport Sector Unit. Ms. Gillian M. Brown, Senior Social Development Specialist at the World Bank's Thailand country office, joined form Bangkok.

JBIC and the TDLC are exploring ways to enhance country-specific operational knowledge sharing, and Mainstreaming Gender in Operations provided an excellent example of the kinds of far-reaching issue-driven discussions taking place via the GDLN.