PRC: Yunnan Integrated Road Network Development Project (YIRNDP)

Piloting Womens Road Maintenance

Xiaohong Yang Lead Transport Specialist, EATC For Joint GTOP and TCOP event 25 May 2012

The views expressed in this paper are the views of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the Asian Development Bank (ADB), or its Board of Governors, or the governments they represent. ADB does not guarantee the accuracy of the data included in this paper and accepts no responsibility for any consequence of their use. The countries listed in this paper do not imply any view on ADB's part as to sovereignty or independent status or necessarily conform to ADB's terminology.

Background
% of PRC average Income-Earning Opportunities Apart from agriculture, very few other income earning opportunities exist in the rural areas. Many men migrate to the cities in search of work, although they are not able to send much money back to the household. Women cannot easily work outside their community due to their other responsibilities for taking care of the children, livestock, agricultural land and the household. They are therefore very restricted in the type of work they can access.

62.0 %

80% 52.0 % 78%

1999

2010

1999

2010

GDP/capita

Rural household consumption

Road Conditions in Yunnan Over 86% of the road network is rural roads, out of which 85% is unpaved (eastern, gravel, and stonepaved surfaces). The lack of routine maintenance has resulted in poor rural road conditions. Roads are located in mountainous terrain, and subjected to high rainfall, leaving communities without access for months at a time. Rural communities face considerable transport difficulties and high costs to access goods and services, including for the purchase of agricultural inputs and the sale of their produce.

Results: Improved Road Conditions

Before

GENDER AND DEVELOPMENT COOPERATION FUND (GDCF $200, 000)

After

650 km of improved rural roads in Dehong prefecture

Pilot Project

Project results: On the job training (GDCF)

Project Results: Skills training and capacity development (GDCF)

Project Assessment (GDCF)

Spotlights: More benefits (GDCF)

Advantages according to women
It is a good project, and we are being guided towards achieving results. It fosters team spirit. It makes our lives easier. We have stable income as we have flexible work hours We also obtained maintenance skillincreased access to employment.

It is empowering
Helped us to finance education of our children, some spent on buildings, refrigerator, etc. Had changes in our perception. We gained confidence. It showcased how it can help turnaround our livelihood skills and our communities.

Transport sector can provide opportunities for employment and skills

What is more

Collective and culture Individual leadership and capacity Community network development and capacity

Leverage ADBs unique advantages for results

Local people and local engineers are being guided towards achieving results Knowledge Investment and Product (value for money) GDCF and SSTA programs for Pilot ($400,000)
Local people are making steps for themselves. They are making their own plan and replicate it in the whole Dehong prefecture in the next year to come!

Works in partnership with local people: womens federation and local engineers.

Replicate demonstration project in loan products (650 km of rural roads, 1.5 million)

GDCF funded the Pilot and has been a strong encouragement throughout

Our Approaches
What steps did we take to get there?
Apply proven labor based road maintenance approach

Develop a multidisciplinary team

Develop a participatory approach to increase womens involvement

Address the specific needs and constraints of women in transport

Identify opportunities where women can play a vital role

Project Overview (YIRNDP)

Impact

Sustainable economic and social development in Yunnan Province

Outcome:

An efficient, safe, sustainable, and environment-friendly road transport system in the project area

Outputs Output 1: Constructed new LonglingRuili highway corridor Output 2: Improved local road network conditions in Yunnan Output 3: Improved rural roads conditions in Dehong prefecture Output 4: Enhanced performance by capacity building by selected road agencies and road maintenance groups
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Gender Action Plan (YIRNDP)

GAP: Targets and Activities

At least 40% of rural women, in particular ethnic minority groups, are employed in the township and village road maintenance Establishment of a women's rural road maintenance committee in each administrative village Gender awareness for relevant stakeholders for effective participation of women in project and community decision-making for rural road infrastructure. Training of trainer on technical skills for rural road maintenance On the job training on road maintenance and rehabilitation Training on basic entrepreneurship skills 55 road maintenance women groups established undertaking routine road maintenance by 2015.

DMF: Performance Targets and Indicators

650 km township and village roads maintained Share of rural population with access to allseason road in Dehong increased from 60% in 2010 to 80% by 2015 55 road maintenance women groups established undertaking routine road maintenance by 2015 Four CCBs contracted 55 village maintenance groups (40% of group members are women) for routine road maintenance by 2015

Mainstreaming Gender in Transport

Gender Action Plan

GAP: Targets and Activities

Dehong local government submits the community based road maintenance recommendations to YPDOT for consideration and replication. At least 1,000 poor are trained in rural road maintenance of which 40% are women under the community based rural road maintenance output. More than 10,000 workers are aware of HIV and AIDS risks. 20% of road maintenance group members establishes household income-generating activities by 2015.

DMF: Performance Targets and Indicators

Four CCBs in Dehong prefecture applied planning, performance-based contracting, and inspection of the maintenance work based on Community-Based

Routine Road Maintenance by Womens Groups Guide for Communications Bureaus by 2015

55 road maintenance women groups trained and capable undertaking the routine road maintenance activities based on the Community-Based Routine

Road Maintenance by Womens Groups Manual for Maintenance Groups by 2015

20% of road maintenance group members established household income generating activities by 2015

Conclusion
Maintenance system successful
Good practice example of gender mainstreaming: Promising approaches
Road nearly always open compared to rainy season closures under old system Road surface conditions improved Women with few employment opportunities provided with income and other employment opportunities in construction and maintenance programs. Raise living standards of household members. Increase productivity through transport project. WOMEN HAPPY, ROAD USERS HAPPY, AUTHORITIES HAPPY THE SYSTEM IS REPLICABLE Maintenance Funding provided by Dehong prefecture has been increased from CNY 2.8 million in 2010 to CNY 7.8 million in 2011. Management system has been improved performance-based contracting through SSTA Women's maintenance groups created have been contracted out to perform routine maintenance of rural roads in Dehong prefecture Yunnan Integrated Road Network Improvement Project - Rural road component to scale up
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THANK YOU

For inquiries: Xiaohong Yang, Email: xyang@adb.org