About ENERGIA

Introduction

ENERGIA is an international network on gender and sustainable energy which links individuals and groups concerned with energy, sustainable development, and gender. ENERGIA's goal is to contribute to the empowerment of rural and urban poor women through a specific focus on energy issues.

Founded in 1995, ENERGIA is now active in Africa, Asia, Latin America and Oceania, as well as in Europe, North America and Australia. At present more than 1800 subscribers receive ENERGIA News. Where ENERGIA Phase 1 (1996-1999) was focused mainly around the production of ENERGIA News, ENERGIA Phase 2 (1999-2002) was centred around seven main activities, including the newsletter, capacity building, advocacy, establishing a resource centre, and regionalisation.

More information about ENERGIA's history and the outcomes of Phase 1 and 2 …

Phase 3 … the Way Forward

Based on the seven years of experiences with ENERGIA, the recommendations from the mid-term evaluation of Phase 2, and on the outcomes of the ENERGIA Phase 3 Planning Workshop - held in February 2002 - a proposal for Phase 3 was prepared. This phase started in January 2003 with initial core support from DGIS and Sida.

The third phase of the ENERGIA programme will continue the activities undertaken under Phase 2, with a main focus on capacity development to integrate gender and energy in policy, programmes and projects for sustainable development, and the consolidation of the network.

The ultimate beneficiaries, though not directly involved in the envisaged activities, are rural and urban poor women. Direct beneficiaries, also involved in programme activities are

1. Policymakers, planners, and project implementers of government institutions, NGOs, networks, multi- and bilateral donors, and private companies; and
2. Network members as partners actively taking part in programme activities, and receiving support for the enhancement of their capabilities, institution building of the sub-networks, and for gender mainstreaming in their own organisations.

The ENERGIA Secretariat that manages and coordinates Phase 3, continues to be hosted under the auspices of ETC Foundation.

More details on the strategies of ENERGIA Phase 3…