ENERGIANet No.10 May 2004

The E-Newsletter of ENERGIA International Network on Gender and Sustainable Energy

Welcome to the tenth issue of ENERGIANet.

If you have received the bulletin for the first time, then let us know what you think.

Please keep sending your gender and energy announcements and/or suggestions to Chesha Wettasinha

ENERGIANet is archived on ENERGIA’s website at: http://www.energia.org/resources/enews.html

Contents

• News from ENERGIA
• Events
• Projects/Programmes/Awards
• Publications/Proceedings
• Internet Resources
• Training
• News from Donors
• Subscribe/Unsubscribe

News from ENERGIA

GVEP/EUEI Monitoring and Evaluation Meeting, 28 January, 2004, Brussels, Belgium
Wendy Annecke from South Africa attended this meeting on behalf of ENERGIA. The M&E initiative within GVEP attempts to remedy the lack of empirical evidence to persuade development agencies of the value of rural energy. It hopes to encourage pilot projects to test M&E methodologies and contribute to a database and a set of resources to advance the credibility of energy projects. ENERGIA presented a discussion paper at the meeting and recommended the inclusion of gender and energy issues in M&E pilot projects. The GVEP/EUEI Monitoring and Evaluation Working Group was officially launched on 19 February 2004 at the Fourth Meeting of the Global Forum on Sustainable Energy.
Read the press release at: http://www.gvep.org/files/7606_me_press_release.pdf

World Bank Energy Week, 8-12 March, 2004
Sheila Oparaocha, ENERGIA Coordinator, was invited to participate at the World Bank Energy Week in Washington D.C. It was an opportunity to meet many of the regional WB staff and representatives from private energy utilities, national energy ministries etc. Gender in the mining industry was a highlight of the session on gender and energy.

RENEWABLES 2004, 1-4 June 2004, Bonn, Germany
ENERGIA has been actively involved in bringing in gender and energy issues into the forthcoming International Conference on Renewable Energy by participating at several preparatory events and contributing a Thematic Background Paper.

• Thematic Background paper
  “Gender Equity and Renewable Energies” is the title of the Thematic Background Paper (TBP) written by Technology Development Group, University of Twente, Netherlands, ENERGIA and Life e.V. Germany. It is one of 12 TBPs that will provide a basis for discussions on the Conference Issue Paper and give some background information and empirical facts for the interested public.
  Read the paper at: http://www.renewables2004.de/pdf/tbp/TBP12-gender.pdf
• Journalists’ Seminar, 28-30 March, Potsdam, Germany
  The event provided a forum to evaluate the upcoming International Conference on Renewable Energy from the viewpoint of development policy. A panel consisting of experts in development policy from the North and South addressed the issues raised. Joy Clancy represented ENERGIA at this event and provided input on gender and renewable energy, with special reference to the South.
• Third Meeting of the International Steering Committee, 1-2 April 2004, Eltville, Germany
  This meeting focused on the expected outcomes of the conference: the international action plan, the political declaration and the guidance for good policies. The Multi Stakeholder Dialogue and the next steps towards the conference were also discussed. Sheila Oparaocha participated on behalf of ENERGIA and pointed out the need for better representation of gender issues in the conference documents. This observation was well received by the committee and ENERGIA has been requested to review the political declaration and the guidance for good policies.
• Side event on “Renewable Energy - Gender Perspectives from North and South”
  ENERGIA and Life e.V. have been invited to host a side event at the conference. ENERGIA network members from Asia, Africa, Latin America will be panellists at this side event. More details of the side events will appear on the conference web site as the preparations progress.
  Visit http://www.renewables2004.de/ for regular updates.

Gender and Energy consultation workshop in Uganda
On 30 January 2004, East African Energy Technology Development Network Uganda (EAETDN-U) hosted a workshop on gender and energy. 36 participants, representing NGOs, government agencies, research institutions, community-based organisations and the University of Makerere, attended the workshop. Networking in gender and energy was discussed using case studies on projects that had been implemented in Uganda. (i.e. wind and solar as an alternative energy for rural fisher folk in Lake Victoria islands: the differentiated needs of men and women). An executive committee was elected for the period 2004-2006, who would prepare a plan based on the needs raised by the different stakeholders.

Gender and Energy consultation workshop in Botswana
A consultation workshop to establish a National Gender and Energy Network in Botswana was hosted by BOTEC (Botswana Technology Centre) on 30-31 March 2004. The workshop brought together organisations with a stake in gender and energy issues in the country who brainstormed on an action plan to mainstream gender in the national energy policy. The Gender and Energy Network of Botswana was established and BOTEC was selected to host and coordinate the network and be ENERGIA's focal point in the country.
Nozipho Ditlhale is the contact person.

GEW Net Nepal - Fifth Steering Committee Meeting
CRT/Nepal, ENERGIA focal point in Nepal, hosted the fifth steering meeting of Gender, Energy and Water Network in March 2004. The progress of the network during the last six-month period was discussed. This included the gender sensitisation programmes for the improved water mills staff and the gender baseline for the water mills programme of CRT.

ENERGIA News
ENERGIA News 6.2 on the theme “Gender and Energy in Oceania” was published in February 2004. Whilst highlighting the challenges of gender and energy work within the specific context of the region, the issue also documents the several successful gender and energy projects in the Pacific Island Countries.
The following issues of ENERGIA News are planned for 2004:
Issue 7.1: Gender and Rural Electrification (May/June 2004)
Issue 7.2: Gender and Energy in the Water Sector (August/September 2004)
If you wish to contribute articles to any of these issues, please contact Chesha Wettasinha at the ENERGIA Secretariat.
If you have subscribed to ENERGIA News, but have not received a copy, or if you wish to subscribe to ENERGIA News, please contact the ENERGIA Secretariat.

Events

Multi Stakeholder Dialogue - Renewables 2004
Stakeholder Forum for Our Common Future is carrying out the overall preparation and coordination of the Multi-Stakeholder Dialogue (MSD) at the International Conference for Renewable Energy. The MSD will be able to influence and input into the international action plan and the guidance for good policy. It will also prepare stakeholder positions on selected issues. Women, NGOs, Consumers, Local and Regional Authorities are amongst the stakeholders identified.
Subscribe to and participate in the dialogue here.
Read the first of the fortnightly newsletters of the MSD.
Send in an article for publishing or comments on the newsletter here.

7th International Workshop on Gender Equity and Microenterprise, 27 May - 4 June 2004, Mauritius
This International Workshop is being conducted by IDMAT, International Institute of Development Management Technology based in New Delhi, India. The workshop focuses on the need and scope of micro enterprise development as a means of achieving sustainable development. It will look at the contexts and challenges of gaining gender equity in micro enterprise development, discuss relevant planning and training strategies and appraisal techniques.
For more information and registration details contact the Programme Coordinator
Or visit the web site.

Projects/Programmes/Awards

Award for Journalists from Developing Countries
The Water Supply and Sanitation Collaborative Council, a multi-stakeholder organization based in Geneva, Switzerland, is holding a competition for journalists from developing countries who investigate issues relating to sanitation, hygiene and water problems in their countries, in collaboration with the International Federation of Environmental Journalists (IFEJ). The entries have to be articles that have already been published in 2003 in a newspaper or magazine, or stories that have been broadcast or telecast in 2003. The winner will receive US$ 500 plus an all-expenses paid trip to Dakar, Senegal, to attend the first WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene for All) Global Forum in November 2004. There will be four other prizes of US$ 250 each, including a “Youth Reporter” award.
More...
Queries can be directed to Daryl D'Monte
Closing date for entries is 30 July 2004.

Energy Globe 2004
Application to the Energy Globe Award is open to any sustainable project and initiative that contributes to efficient and careful use of the world's resources - earth, energy, water and air - and thus safeguards the planet's ecosystems. Organisations or individuals can submit projects in one or more of the following categories: earth, fire, water, air, youth. The winning project in each category will receive a prize of Euro 10,000. Deadline for submission of projects is 30 June 2004.
Application forms can be obtained here, or downloaded from the web site.

Publications/Proceedings

Gender Mainstreaming in Poverty Eradication and the Millennium Development Goals
Naila Kabeer, 2003
This book brings together a diverse set of arguments, findings, and lessons from the development literature that help to explain why gender equality merits specific attention from policymakers, practitioners, researchers, and other stakeholders committed to the pursuit of pro-poor and human-centred development. It argues that improving women's access to economic opportunities and enhancing returns on their efforts, therefore, will be central to the goal of poverty eradication and the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals.
View the book...

Common Ground - Women's Access to Natural Resources and the UN Millennium Development Goals
This booklet published by WEDO - Women's Environment and Development Organisation - explores women's access to and control of natural resources as a critical factor in sustainable development. Through case studies on women's access to water, energy, land , and biodiversity, the booklet shows strong linkages between the MDGs on poverty eradication, gender equality and environmental sustainability.
Download the booklet...

AFREPREN Newsletter No. 45 on “Improving Energy Services for the Urban Poor”, January 2004
This issue of the newsletter contains several articles discussing ways of improving the urban poor's access to modern energy services, with examples drawn from different countries and regions of Africa.
View the newsletter...

Internet Resources

Breathe Easy Network - India
This knowledge-based network is open to all interested organizations and individuals and aims to raise awareness of the health impacts of household energy in the context of acute poverty and to build capacity in the identification and implementation of potential solutions. The network provides resources such as relevant news, details of events, access to publications, details of courses, useful contacts in India and worldwide, and availability of resources for project development and implementation.
Join the network...

WHO website on indoor air pollution
WHO's web site on indoor air pollution was launched recently. It contains a brief overview of the health and broader impacts of cooking and heating with solid fuels, a description of interventions to reduce indoor air pollution, links between household energy and the Millennium Development Goals and, lastly, WHO's activities towards reducing indoor air pollution. The website also provides easy access to other related resources, including databases on indoor air pollution, publications and information on useful web links. The web site is accessible in three languages: English, French and Spanish.
Visit the site...

EASE website
Enabling Access to Sustainable Energy (EASE) aims at enhancing the access of low-income groups, including women, to sustainable energy services in rural Bolivia, Tanzania and Vietnam. EASE undertakes activities in three areas - research, advocacy, and capacity building - to identify and implement viable energy projects with rural communities in these countries.
Visit EASE's recently launched web site for more information on the programme's aims, activities and partner organisations.

Training

Women's Photovoltaic Design and Installation, 12 - 17 June 2004, Custer, Wisconsin, USA.
This is one of the workshops designed specifically for women by Solar Energy International (SEI). The course aims at teaching women how to use photovoltaic technology to produce electricity from the sun through practical design and installation of PV systems. The course also includes PV in developing countries and discussions on issues such as being a woman in a traditionally male field.
More information on the course and on-line registration...

Renewable Energy for the Developing World, 21 - 25 June 2004, Carbondale, Colorado, USA
This workshop conducted by SEI will explore different applications for renewable energy technologies in developing countries. Among the topics are solar cooking and food drying, solar water distillation, PV for rural health care, integrating women into PV projects and financing solar energy.
More information and on-line registration...

News from Donors

SEED - Supporting Entrepreneurs in Environment and Development - Awards
Launched in January 2004, the Seed Awards aim to reward and renew innovations in project cooperation between small and large businesses, local and international nongovernmental organisations, public authorities and U.N. agencies. Every two-year cycle, five to ten (depending on funding) partnerships will receive individually-targetted support. The maximum financial value of the services offered as part of the awards package will be EUR 25,000. Submission requirements include: focus on environmental, social, and economic development in support of the Millennium Development Goals and/or the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation; a minimum of three partner organisations from different stakeholder groups and inclusion of local actors; and a business plan. The first round of submissions will be accepted between May and December 2004, with the awards presented at the UN Commission for Sustainable Development meeting in April 2005. The founding partners of the Seed Initiative are Stakeholder Forum, UNEP, and IUCN, with support from the German Federal Ministry for Environment. Collaborating partners include Partnerships Central and the Global Public Policy Institute (GPPI).
Deadline for applications is 15 August 2004.
More information...
Or mail to Peter Ritchie

Sustainable Energy Projects Support (SEPS) - WISIONS
WISIONS is an initiative of the Wuppertal Institute for Climate, Environment and Energy to foster practical sustainable energy projects. It is at present receiving applications for renewable energy and energy efficiency projects from around the world, which will be supported through SEPS. The projects will be judged on a list of criteria, including technical viability, economic feasibility, implementation strategy, social aspects such as gender and poverty reduction, inclusion of local population/structures, cooperation with other stakeholders etc. The current topic for projects is “resource efficiency in construction”.
More information and application forms...

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