[{"bbox": [96, 152, 1134, 366], "category": "Text", "text": "As per the OECD Gender DAC codes identified in section 1.1, this action is labelled as G1. This implies that gender equality and empowerment of women and girls is a significant objective of the action (GAP III, SDG 5). The design of the action was informed by the Country Gender Profile outlining that women are generally more prone to be affected by lack of access to WASH services. Women's roles in natural resources management is already being recognised under ReNoka, for instance their importance they play and responsibilities they have in water management as well as in the management of natural resources. Women will be an asset as they have acquired valuable knowledge that enables them to contribute positively to the identification of appropriate adaptation and mitigation techniques in the action."}, {"bbox": [96, 391, 1134, 551], "category": "Text", "text": "The activities foreseen by this action can have a gender transformational impact. Access to water supply in rural communities can improve public health and nutrition for all and reduce water fetching time, which is a task allotted mainly to women and girls. Instead this time can be invested for girls to attend school and women to focus on economic activities. Access to WASH in rural schools can improve public health of all students, and provide access to menstrual hygiene for girls and young women. Thus, access to WASH facilities encourages greater school attendance by girls and young women."}, {"bbox": [96, 576, 1134, 869], "category": "Text", "text": "Through emphasis on equal access to and control over water and ecosystem services for women and youth, including equitable engagement in the management of clean water and livelihoods, the ReNoka programme will contribute to the economic and social empowerment of the latter. Gender equality will be mainstreamed, promoting equal access to and control over e.g. ecosystems. Under ReNoka, gender roles and norms have been considered in the prioritisation of catchment rehabilitation measures and assured that women, men and groups in vulnerable situations contribute equitably. Moreover, ReNoka aims at intention advancing gender equality through ICM. In this regard a gender mainstreaming guideline in community council planning process has been developed and is currently being implemented. The goals of gender mainstreaming in community engagement are as follows: gender sensitive introduction of the programme to the community, ensuring it does not further perpetuate the marginalisation of certain groups; leave no-one behind-inclusive formation of community watershed teams; and gender-sensitive and inclusive community meetings."}, {"bbox": [96, 894, 1134, 1028], "category": "Text", "text": "As much as there are positive legal reforms related to women empowerment, the status of women remains unchanged due to customary law and practices (e.g.: rangelands are customarily the domain of men, issues of land inheritance, etc.). ICM related legislation still lacks sufficient realisation of gender equality principles, which makes it difficult to promote the latter in the sphere of land and water resources management. More work will be done to emphasise and protect the rights of women and children under this action."}, {"bbox": [96, 1053, 1134, 1134], "category": "Text", "text": "Lastly, one of the causes of maternal mortality in Lesotho is insufficient water within health facilities-clinics. As a result, women have gained more knowledge on water issues that include sources, purifying and safe storage²⁸. This negative impact will be reduced by improving access to safe water for women and girls in rural Lesotho."}, {"bbox": [96, 1160, 242, 1185], "category": "Section-header", "text": "## Human Rights"}, {"bbox": [96, 1185, 1134, 1319], "category": "Text", "text": "The design and implementation of this action is inspired by the Human Rights-based approach²⁹ and the need to ensure that those living in the most vulnerable situations are represented and can participate and steer Lesotho's water-sanitation-hygiene policy. Addressing access to drinking water in rural communities and access to WASH in rural schools will help remove a significant socio-economic barrier that prevents many Basotho from enjoying their formal rights."}, {"bbox": [96, 1319, 1134, 1479], "category": "Text", "text": "In addition, sector coordination activities will continue to involve civil society actors such as the Lesotho National Federation of Organisations of Disabled (LNFOD), World Vision Lesotho, Catholic Relief Services and Technologies for Economic Development (TED). The Action will respect the 5 HRBA principles: respect to all human rights, participation, accountability, transparency, and accountability. In addition, the action will implement the principles of no one left behind, do not harm and will encourage the private sector to respect the guiding principles on business and human rights."}, {"bbox": [96, 1509, 194, 1534], "category": "Section-header", "text": "## Disability"}, {"bbox": [85, 1596, 748, 1621], "category": "Footnote", "text": "²⁸ Baseline Study on El-Nino Linked Gender-Based Violence in Lesotho (2016)"}, {"bbox": [85, 1621, 708, 1645], "category": "Footnote", "text": "²⁹ EU human rights guidelines on safe drinking water and sanitation (2019)"}, {"bbox": [1027, 1680, 1141, 1704], "category": "Page-footer", "text": "Page 12 of 28"}]