As African countries undertake significant infrastructure development to transform their economies, it is critical that they take into account the impact of these capital projects on the health of workers and nearby communities, and on women and girls in particular.

“Large capital projects are a key driver of employment and growth, and for development to be achieved, we must minimise environmental and social damage,” says Geraldine Fraser-Moleketi, Vice-President and Special Envoy on Gender at the African Development Bank (AfDB).

Fraser-Moleketi was speaking at the opening of the two-day Second Technical Meeting on Health, Gender Equality and Capital Projects, that brought together more than 18 African country representatives from health, environment, mining, transport, infrastructure and civil society, as well from regional economic communities.

Working for robust assessments

African countries have made significant investments in infrastructure in recent years and the UNDP and AfDB are working with countries to advocate for and strengthen capacity to make environmental assessments more robust to help mitigate health and gender-related risks that come with mobile workers with money.

Capital projects such as roads and mines draw huge numbers of workers, particularly men, to sites away from their homes for long periods of time.

Their working and living conditions, usually in close quarters, are seen as potential drivers of infectious diseases such as tuberculosis.

At the same time, mobile workers’ disposable income is usually spent on commodities such as alcohol and sex in nearby communities, increasing the risks of HIV infection, especially for women and girls.

Areas for improvement

While some countries have made progress in mainstreaming health and gender into their impact assessments, participants identified areas for improvement.

Among the recommendations, participants highlighted the need for harmonised legal frameworks at the regional level to ensure better integration of social issues particularly health (communicable and non-communicable), occupational health and safety included in impact assessments, and increased capacity and financial resources to conduct evidence-informed assessments and ensure monitoring and compliance.

They also recommended more advocacy and emphasis be placed on strategic environmental assessments given the nature of capital projects planned across the continent.