Rural women in Afghanistan

147 Pages·2017·3.13 MB·English

Master’s Thesis 2017 30 ECTS
Faculty of Social Sciences
Noragric
William Derman
Rural women in Afghanistan:
a gendered approach to the right to
water, participation and non-
discrimination
Karen Johanne Verne
International Relations
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“To be a human being is to be a purposeful agent”
Anthony Giddens
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The Department of International Environment and Development Studies, Noragric, is the
international gateway for the Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU). Eight
departments, associated research institutions and the Norwegian College of Veterinary
Medicine in Oslo. Established in 1986, Noragric’s contribution to international development
lies in the interface between research, education (Bachelor, Master and PhD programmes) and
assignments.
The Noragric Master theses are the final theses submitted by students in order to fulfil the
requirements under the Noragric Master programme “International Environmental Studies”,
“International Development Studies” and “International Relations”.
The findings in this thesis do not necessarily reflect the views of Noragric. Extracts from this
publication may only be reproduced after prior consultation with the author and on condition
that the source is indicated. For rights of reproduction or translation contact Noragric.
© Karen Johanne Verne, December 2017
[e-mail]
Noragric
Department of International Environment and Development Studies
P.O. Box 5003
N-1432 Ås
Norway
Tel.: [phone] Internet: https://www.nmbu.no/om/fakulteter/samvit/institutter/noragric
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Declaration
I, Karen Johanne Verne, declare that this thesis is a result of my research investigations
and findings. Sources of information other than my own have been acknowledged and a
reference list has been appended. This work has not been previously submitted to any other
university for award of any type of academic degree.
Signature……………………………………
Date…………………………………………
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Acknowledgments
The respondents in Dahane-Shalege and Kakrag deserve my first and foremost gratitude.
Through their narratives, these women opened up a key hole and let me peek into a small part of
their daily lives in rural Afghanistan. Needless to say, my research would have been impossible
without them and their stories, and I will never forget them, and always be thankful.
I am also immensely grateful to the Norwegian Church Alliance – Kirkens Nødhjelp – in
Afghanistan. They not only assisted me with selecting appropriate villages and respondents; they
brought the women to CoAR’s field office in Kharbid, Ashtarlai, gave them lunch, and conducted
and translated the interviews live with me in Oslo via a fickle telephone line. With their nuanced
knowledge and cultural competence, Mr. Ahmad Assan, Mr. Ghulam Tariq, and in particular Ms.
Mursal Abrar have been exceedingly helpful and friendly, and always ready to closing my many
knowledge gaps.
Moreover, I thank my two supervisors, who are partly responsible for my choice of topic
due to their inspiring lectures on human rights, development, Afghanistan and fragility. Dr.
William Derman and Mr. Karim Merchant deserve many thanks, also for their feedback and
encouragements. Through their assistance, I know the thesis has improved enormously. And I
believe Karim holds the speed record for answering emails!
I am also indebted to other faculty, government officials in Kabul, and friends who have
listened, given assistance, shared information, and suggested improvements: Gry Synnevåg, Mr.
Ghulam Qader, Mr. Fahimullah Ziaee, Mr. Mamoon Khawar, Debbie Harrison, Niamh Ní
Bhroin, and others.
Last but not least, I thank my children Mathilde, Gustav Erik, and Martin, and especially
my husband Terje, who has been my competent QA resource and ally, and performed (almost) all
the daily tasks so that I could concentrate on my research.
Karen
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Abstract
Afghanistan is a fragile, war-ravaged and mostly semi-arid country in which water is
scarce and droughts are common. In many of the country’s 32,000 rural villages, Afghan women
bear the responsibility for the households’ water. However, accessing water is often arduous and
time-consuming. The available water may not even be safe – diarrhea due to contaminated water
is ubiquitous. Through a case study among women in two rural communities in Ashtarlai,
Daikundi, the research has investigated the agency displayed by these women regarding water
management. Moreover, the Afghan state’s fulfillment of these women’s human rights – to water,
participation and non-discrimination - has been analyzed and assessed.
The research has revealed substantial differences regarding agency as well as access to
water: In Kakrag, the Norwegian Church Alliance Afghanistan have implemented the Water,
Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) program, which apart from easy access to safe water has
enabled the creation of transformative and inclusive institutions. As a consequence, gendered
stereotypes have weakened and women’s equal participation in water management has increased
significantly. In Dahane-Shalege, there has been no WASH program, the water situation is
destitute, and the women display no signs of agency in water management.
The state of Afghanistan was found to have committed human rights violations by
omissions, according to the International Covenant of Economic, Cultural and Social Rights
(ICECSR): The right to water, participation, and equitability, but also the women’s right to
health, livelihood, food, education, development and human dignity, even the right to life.
Human rights theories, the concepts of indivisibility and interrelatedness of rights, as well
as agency theory have been useful when assessing the women’s situation regarding water,
equitability and participation. The research has contributed to understanding of the necessity of
inclusive institutions in equalizing economic, social and cultural differences.
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Abbreviations
AFN afghanis
ARTF Afghanistan Reconstruction Trust Fund
CDC Community Development Council
CCNPP The Citizens’ Charter National Priority Program
CEDAW The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women
CESCR The Committee of Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights
CoAR Coordination of Afghanistan Relief
CRPD The Convention for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
DAACAR Danish Committee for Aid to Afghan Refugees
P-RRD Provincial Rural Rehabilitation Department
FP Facilitating partner
GWP Global Water Partnership
ICCPR International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights
IDA International Development Assistance
IDP Internally Displaced Persons
IO International Organization
ICECSR International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
IWMI International Water Management Institute
JMP The WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme for Water Supply and Sanitation
LPCD Liter per capita per day
MAIL Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock
MEW Ministry of Energy and Water
MRRD Ministry of Rural Rehabilitation and Development
MPH Ministry of Public Health
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MUS multiple-use water services
NCA Norwegian Church Aid (“Kirkens Nødhjelp”)
NCA-Afg Norwegian Church Aid Afghanistan
NOK Norwegian kroner
NRK Norsk Rikskringkasting
NUG National Unity Government
ODF Open Defecation Free
OHCHR Office of the High Comissioner of Human Rights
PAD Project Appraisal Document
Ru-WatSIP Rural Water Supply, Sanitation and Irrigation Programme
SDG Sustainable Development Goal
UN The United Nations
UNAMA United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan
UNDP United Nations Development Programme
UNEP United Nations Environment Programme
UNGA United Nations General Assembly
UNGAR United Nations General Assembly Resolution
WASH Water Sanitation and Hygiene
WC WASH Committee
WUA Water Use Association
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List of figures and tables
Table 1 The JMP water indicators
Table 2 Respondents in Kakrag, WASH village
Table 3 Respondents in Dahane-Shalege, non-WASH village
Table 4 Main source of water according to district
Figure 1 Average annual precipitation in Afghanistan
Figure 2 Improved water in the rural areas
Figure 3 Pre-WASH satisfaction
Figure 4 Post-WASH satisfaction
Figure 5 Disagreement with the water norm
Figure 6 Perceptions of agency in water management
Figure 7 Dissatisfaction with the government
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