This project-centered tool is meant to support projects that have been well selected, are a priority for government, and represent value for money, therefore the questions do not address project identification or selection. A project that considers issues relevant to gender equality:
• Reflects good governance. Well managed infrastructure considers the interests of the entire community.
• Contributes to the developmental goals of the government, development partners and private investors. Seeking gender equality will help meet the government's development goals, the Sustainable Development Goals, and other national and regional priorities. It can also help the project access support from different sources of funding and financing, as and when needed-for example, to the extent bilateral or multilateral investment is sought.
• Is good business. Women are consumers; they may form a key part of the labor, business-owner or service-provider pools; and they are key community and political stakeholders. A project that proactively seeks gender equality is more resilient and more robust in times of change, particularly in times of political change, when new policies might suggest a change in support for the project. It is harder to undermine a project when it clearly serves the needs of women. If the project supports the community, in times of change, the community is far more likely to support the project.
When asking the questions, the following analytical tools and considerations may be useful:
• Disaggregated data by sex, age group, ethnicity, language, and economic status that can help to identify gender differences and constraints and respond to issues one group is facing;
• Household-survey-based tools and approaches that help assess affordability of services, willingness to pay, and the effectiveness of current systems for targeting subsidies;
• Poverty and social impact analysis (PSIA) methods or tools using household-survey data to simulate direct and indirect effects of tariff increases for a good or service (e.g., in energy or transport) on the welfare of different groups of women;
• Gender maps and other spatial data on welfare indicators, cross-referenced with other information and statistics (such as vulnerability to disasters, existing infrastructure, and public facilities);
• Population census data that can shed light on literacy, language, religious affiliation, etc.;
• Micro-simulation tools using household survey data to assess the welfare impact of infrastructure or other forms of investment that has potential impact on output, employment and prices;
• Focus groups that gather specific information and obtain feedback on the consultation process; and
• NGOs and other community groups working with, and amongst, women that can provide key data and assessments.