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Inspite of the significant progress registered in positioning gender equality issues more centrally within programming, debates about gender mainstreaming perseveres. This paper focuses on refugee women's experiences in water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) projects in Tongogara Refugee Camp (TRC) in Zimbabwe.  The study posits that the age, gender and diversity mainstreaming (AGDM) policy in WASH projects at TRC meant to empower women, is regarded by the male counterparts as a threat to their authority and power. Guided by a feminist political ecology (FPE) theoretical framework, this qualitative research utilised a case study method with sixty-eight interviews, five indepth interviews and eight focus group discussions (FGD) to gather data. The findings show that the imposition of a top-down approach to the implementation of the AGDM policy guidelines on the refugee community has resulted in the increase of domestic violence, sexual and gender based based violence (SGBV), divisions in families as well as resentment of the AGDM policy by some men for promoting gender equality. The research concluded that the implementation of the AGDM in WASH activities is an imposition from above without input from the refugee population, particularly the refugee population.

This paper analyses the participation of women as primary providers, users and managers of water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) at household level in Tongogara Refugee Camp (TRC), in Zimbabwe. The study argues that the participation of women is essential for the success of WASH projects and for programme sustainability, but the patriarchal nature of the projects has left most women at the periphery of the planning process. Informed by a feminist political ecology (FPE) approach, the study utilises a qualitative methodology in which data were gathered through 68 interviews, five key informant interviews, eight Focus Group Discussions, observations and a desk review. The research findings show gaps in women’s access, use and control of WASH facilities. Despite their vast knowledge in water management, women still bear the brunt of water shortages and struggle for power. The study concludes that women still grapple with crises of access, use and control of WASH facilities in TRC. Improving access and availability of WASH facilities will reduce incidences of gender-based violence and the burden of WASH shortages on women in TRC.

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