Aquaquest was retained by the Zambian Road Development Agency (RDA) to conduct a gender assessment, develop a gender mainstreaming strategy and plan, as well as a gender and citizen engagement toolkit. The assessment was part of the World Bank-funded Integrated Rural Connectivity Project (IRCP), a USD 200M Project aimed at the upgrading of roads in rural areas of Zambia. Two teams of gender experts conducted the gender survey in 44 districts in all 10 provinces of Zambia. Stakeholder meetings, focus group discussions and key informant interviews with the communities were conducted to acquire the necessary information.
The resulting data was processed, analysed and summarized in a final gender assessment report. A gender strategy was developed, based on the findings. Information and feedback from stakeholders was then analysed and used to develop a gender and citizen engagement toolkit, for the roll-out of gender training and capacity development of RDA staff, Contractors engaged in the IRCP, District authorities and Community representatives