The Gender Equality and Social Inclusion in Infrastructure (GESIT) initiative, aims to foster a successful model of collaboration to enhance participation and job opportunities for women and people with disabilities on infrastructure projects.
Infrastructure investment is a key driver of growth and development in Indonesia. When infrastructure planning, design and delivery is inclusive, infrastructure can help to create safer and more efficient urban environments for women, people with a disability and other marginalised and minoritised groups. Done right, it can also contribute to greater workforce participation for women and people with a disability.
Our role and impact
Through GESIT, Tetra Tech works with women’s and disabled people’s organisations in Indonesia to support the effective participation of women and people with disabilities in infrastructure-related planning and monitoring. We provide grants and capacity strengthening to local organisations to foster civil society participation in local government infrastructure fora. The activity also seeks to create opportunities for women people with disabilities to take advantage of infrastructure-related employment opportunities. Tetra Tech refreshed the design of the GESIT in 2021 to respond to widening inequalities resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2022 we tested the refreshed design through a pilot with two grantee organisations (PERTUNI and Muslimati NU) in Probolinggo District. We are now in full implementation, delivering grants to 11 organisations in six districts across Indonesia.
To date, GESIT has supported substantial engagement between civil society and local government to influence for more inclusive infrastructure policy, planning and delivery. Grantees have conducted accessibility audits of local road infrastructure and successfully advocated for government funding to support equitable and inclusive participation of women and people with a disability in local infrastructure fora (e.g. through the provision of sign language interpreters). In Probolinggo District, GESIT facilitated joint work planning between the local government, PERTUNI and Muslimat NU. This joint work plan supports the effectiveness of the local infrastructure forum through continued public funding, capacity building and the creation of new activities.
Demonstrating the success of fostering a collaborative relationship between government and civil society, GESIT and its grantees have supported the drafting of two Bupati regulations in the districts of Wonosbo and Probolinggo. Wonosobo district government drafted guidance on Inclusive Assessment for Public Building and Facility, providing opportunities for CSOs to be employed as accessibility consultants. Probolinggo district drafted a regulation to support the role of CSOs in performing accessibility assessments in infrastructure project design.
Highlights
- GESIT grantees’ advocacy led to five new regulations by Local Governments, improving inclusive infrastructure in Indonesia
- Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) and Official Public Departments (OPDs) received training on communications, financial management, and program management. They then successfully organised events supporting communities and advocated for improved regulations
- With their enhanced knowledge, CSOs and OPDs influenced government policies and improved local infrastructure, benefiting women and people with disabilities
Our expert
Dara Doldo
Dara Doldo is associate director for infrastructure.
At a glance
Client
Cardno Emerging Markets
Date
December 2021 – present
Location
Indonesia