Risks, Responses and Rights: Gender Dimensions of Water Excess and Water Scarcity in the Mekong Delta, Viet Nam

Abstract: “The Mekong Delta in Vietnam is a region primarily shaped by water. The rise and fall of the waters of the Mekong River greatly determines the productivity and diversity of the agro-ecosystems of the delta. The risks of flooding and water scarcity have the potential, however, to cause considerable social and economic impacts. How people perceive, respond and are affected by these risks has changed considerably over time. This chapter explores through the lens of gender key issues associated with the risks of water excess and water scarcity in the Mekong Delta. It shows that the rights of women to water and to participate in decision making concerning water matters have been greatly neglected in water policy and practice to date. It argues that the participation of women in decision making on water issues is the key to the evolution of more appropriate and socially-embedded institutions for water resources management.
Locality: Asia