Gender in Energy: Training pack

Technology and Development Group (TDG)
University of Twente, the Netherlands
1997

Introduction

In June 1997, Margaret Skutsch of the Technology Development Group (TDG) of the University of Twente developed a Gender in Energy Training Pack for TDG. The training pack has been designed for training professional energy planners in government service or in NGOs in developing countries, in particular those who are involved in rural energy planning. It may also be of use in training consultants involved in planning of this nature. Typical projects or programmes could include the dissemination of improved woodstoves, the encouragement of tree growing or community forest management for a better firewood supply, the promotion of new and renewable energy technologies, and rural electrification.

The training pack suggests how to adapt rural energy planning to take into account gender issues. First it tries to draw attention to the extent to which women's interests have been neglected; then it borrows gender planning methods used in rural development planning and agriculture and shows how these can be applied in energy planning. Thirdly it reviews and develops frameworks, or sequences of activities, which, if carried out, should ensure that gender issues are dealt with from beginning to end in project planning and implementation. Finally it considers the very real problems of persuading the planning institutions to adopt such tools and procedures.

All modules of the training pack can be downloaded individually as PDF files by using the links in the table of contents below.

Table of Contents

Module 1: Understanding gender

1. What is gender?
2. The Difference between Women and Energy and a Gender Approach in Energy
3. Changing views on development, gender and energy
4. Important concepts and terminology relating to gender

Module 2: Women and gender in energy plans

1. The current situation as regards gender in energy plans
2. Looking for gender content in project plans

Module 3: Towards more gender sensitive planning methods

1. Planning approaches: the gender approach for efficiency
2. Planning approaches: the gender approach for equity

Module 4: Gender analytic tools

1. What are gender analytic tools?
2. Gender checklists

Module 5: Gender sensitive data gathering tools

1. Methods of gathering qualitative data for gender in energy
2. Tools for use in field surveys

Module 6: Building gender tools into an overall planning framework

1. Fundamental issues in the design of gender sensitive planning frameworks
2. Model planning frameworks incorporating gender
3. Genderising traditional planning models
4. Incorporating gender into project proposals

Module 7: Introducing the gender approach into institutions

1. Institutionalising the gender approach
2. Overcoming resistance to the gender approach

Tips for Trainers

1. The nature and philosophy of the course
2. Structure of the course and how to staff it
3. "Menus" for courses
4. General notes on how to run sessions
5. Some typical problems in the class room and how to deal with them
6. Detailed trainer's notes

Ordering the Publication

The paper can be ordered as Occasional Paper no.9, 1997, ISBN 90-365-0984 from:

University of Twente
Technology and Development Group
P.O. Box 217
7500 AE Enschede
The Netherlands

Acknowledgement
ENERGIA thanks TDG for kindly permitting the publication of this training material on the ENERGIA website.