The PWP’s PMU pays a great deal of attention to enhancing women participation in the identification of priorities and the selection of subprojects to be implemented in target areas. This is manifested in the action taken by the PMU to establish a gender unit within the PMU with the aim of:

• Coordination and action to include women activities in the PWP’s subprojects.
• Assist in the implementation of subprojects serving women.
• Engagement of women in all stages of a project’s life cycle.
• Ensure sustainability of subprojects implemented by strengthening the participation of local community stakeholders in the various stages of the project’s lifecycle.

Greater progress has been made in this respect, including: -

• 200 female consultants have been appointed to ensure women participation in identification of needs, prioritizing, and selection of subprojects, improvement of access, and application of safety measures.
• In 287 subprojects, the number of female’s participants exceeded the number of males, thus ensuring selected subproject represents women’s high priority.
• 369 women community councils have been formed with 14,537 women participation in selection and prioritization of subprojects. Similarly, 320 women have been trained in various governorates in planning and needs identification. 402 male community councils have been formed with 9,928 male participants.

Gender mainstreaming is also accomplished through women mobilization teams. The teams conduct awareness campaign on prevention of the cholera outbreak. During field visits, they distribute booklets and posters and train women on hygienic practices.

The PWP has adopted an initiative to encourage contractors to engage women in their activities with the aim of creating income-generation opportunities for women that are suitable for their abilities. So far, 3318 women have been hired by contractors in various activities at an average daily wage of YR 1400 per day.

The PWP has succeeded in ensuring that women are engaged in the identification of priorities for subprojects to be implemented during field surveys and studies for identification of communities, needs.