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ENERGIANet No.11 October 2004
The E-Newsletter of ENERGIA International Network on Gender and Sustainable Energy
Welcome to the eleventh 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
- News from Donors
- Subscribe/Unsubscribe
News from ENERGIA
Renewables 2004, 1-4 June 2004, Bonn, Germany
Having contributed substantially in the preparatory phase of Renewables 2004, ENERGIA participated actively at the conference itself. ENERGIA and Life e.V. (Germany) organised a side event “Renewable Energy - Gender Perspectives from North and South”. The event was attended by more than 50 conference participants including the Minister of Energy and Mineral Development of Uganda, donor representatives from Sida, BMZ, and DGIS, and members from AFREPREN and ENDA. ENERGIA members from Asia (Indira Shakya - GEWNET, Nepal), Africa (Lydia Muchiri - ITDG, Kenya), and the Pacific (Yogita Chandra - PEG, SOPAC Fiji) were panellists at this event.
As part of the Stakeholder group of Women, ENERGIA in collaboration with Climate Alliance of European Cities with Indigenous Rainforest Peoples, ITDG Kenya, Nov Africa Centre for Innovation and Development, GEWNet - Centre for Rural Technology Nepal, Pacific Gender and Energy Network, Gratis-Ghana, Windfang and Life e.V - Germany, also contributed to the main sessions of the conference and worked hard to get gender incorporated into the Political Declaration - a key outcome of the conference. The Political Declaration clearly states gender mainstreaming and recognising the roles of women in strengthening human and institutional capacities for renewable energies. This group of organisations came up with actions and commitments to mainstream energy into energy policy, planning and programmes at the international, national, regional and local level. Assessing the gender impacts of the International Action Programme was also stressed by them The group also contributed to gender considerations within the policy recommendations for renewable energies.
Conference Report
World Renewable Energy Congress (WREC) VIII, 29 August - 3 September 2004, Denver, Colorado, USA
With poverty alleviation and environment getting high priority on the agenda, the WREC, for the first time in its history, called out Gender and Energy as a track in its own right. ENERGIA Network members provided significant support in organising events, presenting papers, co-chairing sessions, and leading discussions. On 29 August, a whole day workshop was organised on the theme, “Gender and Poverty Reduction: Issues and Roles of the North and the South”. Dominique Lallement of ESMAP, World Bank, made the keynote address, whilst Elizabeth Cecelski, Anoja Wickramasinghe, Govind Kelkar, Wendy Annecke and Joanna Maduka were among the invited speakers.
Presentations on the human face of energy and poverty were made at the plenary sessions on two days of the conference. During the week, 22 speakers reported on gender and energy research and policy issues from around the world, including Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Canada, India, Morocco, Nepal, New Zealand, Sri Lanka and the United States. The WREC VIII participants recommended a number of actions regarding gender, energy, water, health and poverty reduction to be taken to the 14th and 15th sessions of the Commission on Sustainable Development.
WREN 2004 Pioneer Award for ENERGIA member
ENERGIA is proud to announce that Elizabeth Cecelski, founder member of the ENERGIA Network and presently Technical Advisor for Research and Advocacy, has been awarded the WREN 2004 Pioneer Award for her lifelong contributions to the advancement of renewable energy. Elizabeth received this prestigious award at the World Renewable Energy Congress Banquet in Colorado, USA. Congratulations Liz on behalf of the ENERGIA Network!!
Support to “Renewable Futures - Seminar on Energy and Change”
This European Seminar was hosted by ESCANDA and INFORSE in Asturias, Spain from 22-29 August 2004. ENERGIA provided input in bringing in gender and energy issues into the seminar. The paper of Joy Clancy and Ulrike Roehr, “Gender and Energy - Is there a Northern Perspective?” was included in the seminar reader.
ARECOP (Asia Regional Cookstove Programme) Planning Technical Advisory Meeting, Hanoi, Vietnam, August 2004
Several ENERGIA members, also members of ARECOP, were present at this meeting. Soma Dutta, Asia Regional Network Coordinator, made a presentation on ENERGIA and its activities in Asia, identifying common areas that ENERGIA and ARECOP could collaborate on such as capacity building, information sharing and advocacy events, and development of resource material. The meeting has enhanced the synergy between ARECOP and ENERGIA.
Presentation at EASE Partners’ Meeting
Sheila Oparaocha, ENERGIA Coordinator, made a presentation on ENERGIA's experiences in international advocacy at the EASE Partners Meeting held in the Netherlands in July 2004. EASE partners from Tanzania, Bolivia and Vietnam were very interested in learning from ENERGIA's experiences to improve their advocacy and lobbying activities.
Gender and Energy consultation workshops
Bangladesh
A one-day consultation workshop for setting up a National Gender and Energy Network in Bangladesh was hosted by Prokaushali Sangsad Ltd. on 6 May 2004 in Dhaka. The 35 participants at the meeting represented educational and research organisations, government agencies, NGOs, donor organisations, the private sector and the press. The meeting took stock of the energy policies, programmes and activities related to gender and energy in Bangladesh and identified the scope for intervention of the proposed gender and energy network. After a short introduction to the ENERGIA International Network, the group went on to discuss several organisational issues. The name Gender and Energy Network - Bangladesh was agreed upon.
Based on its track record of working in gender and energy issues, Prokaushali Sangsad Ltd. was selected to be the National Focal Point, and to host the network's secretariat. Ms. Asma Haque was selected as the first coordinator of the network and was mandated to manage operations until the full organisational structure, inclusive of Chairperson, Steering/Executive Committee and Technical Advisory Groups were put in place. Mainstreaming gender issues in planning, fact-finding and research on gender and energy, capacity building, information dissemination and awareness raising campaigns are some of the areas of involvement identified for the network. These will be worked into an action plan at a future meeting of the network.
For more information please contact Ms. Asma Haque. Membership is open to any individual or organisation interested in working with gender and energy issues.
View workshop report...
Pakistan
A consultation workshop to establish a National Gender and Energy Network in Pakistan was held on the 21 July 2004 in Islamabad, hosted by the Aga Khan Rural Support Programme (AKRSP). 41 participants from the private and public sectors, NGOs, donor agencies and the media attended. After a general introduction, the workshop identified the main gender and energy issues in the country and the on-going programmes tackling some of these issues. A national network to address these issues was established with AKRSP as the National Focal Point and Secretariat to the Network, and liaison between the National Network and ENERGIA. 17 organisations signed up as founder members of the Network and an Interim Steering Committee was set up to work on procedures and structure. More details can be obtained from Ms. Fareeha Ummar.
View workshop report...
Mali
Also in July 2004, a similar consultation to set up a Gender and Energy Network in Mali was organised by the NGO Mali-Folkecenter. Among the 24 participants were representatives of government ministries, international and national NGOs, universities and civil society organisations. The gender and energy scenario in Mali was mapped out through several presentations. ENERGIA Focal Point in Nigeria, Friends of the Environment, presented the objectives and aims of ENERGIA. Ms. Dembele Aida of Mali-Folkecenter shared her experiences on the Gender and Energy Training Workshop organised by ENERGIA in South Africa. Having reached consensus on the need for establishing a gender and energy network in Mali, the participants selected Mail-Folkecenter as ENERGIA Focal Point in Mali with Ms. Demebele Aida as President of the network. A Steering Committee consisting of several participating organisations will be involved in developing a set of internal rules for the network.
For more information, please contact Ms. Dembele Aida of the Mali-Folkecenter
View workshop report...
Gender Equity Strategy and Action Plan for the Rural Electrification Board of Bangladesh
ENERGIA completed this assignment successfully and the final report was submitted to the REB, Bangladesh in May 2004. The Gender Equity Strategy (GES) addresses three main categories of issues, namely organisational issues, increasing gender equity of women employees and rural women's empowerment. Recommendations for implementing the GES at different levels - macro, meso and community levels - are also provided. Please contact the ENERGIA Secretariat for more information.
Research Project “Gender as a key variable in energy interventions in developing countries: are we asking the right questions”
This research project funded by DFID-KaR will be carried out by ENERGIA with Elizabeth Cecelski as principal researcher. The project aims at developing an analytical framework for understanding and measuring linkages between gender, poverty and energy that would be credible in both gender/poverty and energy terms, with a view to improving project design. Six case studies will be carried out in developing countries during the project, which will address two major research questions: a) Do gender relations constitute a key variable in determining the impact of energy policies, programmes and projects? b) How can energy (service and policy) interventions most effectively contribute to the process of empowering women?
The inception meeting for the project was held in Cape Town, South Africa, from 19-22 April, to prepare the analytical framework and revise the case study proposals. ENERGIA Network members from South Africa, Uganda, India, and Senegal, will be involved as researchers in this project.
For more information contact Sheila Oparaocha or Elizabeth Cecelski
Gender and Energy Test Training Workshop in South Africa
Two upgraded modules of the Gender and Energy Training Pack, namely Gender and Energy Concepts and Tools to Plan a Gender Sensitive Energy Project, were tested at a six-day workshop in South Africa in July 2004. The training was organised by ENERGIA in collaboration with Mineral and Energy Education and Training Institute (MEETI), South Africa. May Sengendo, ENERGIA member from EAETDN in Uganda, and Mr. Banda Dazydelian from ESAMI were the trainers. Representatives from both the energy and development sectors were among the 21 trainees, and included several ENERGIA Focal Points. Trainees will develop follow-up action plans to apply the new skills gained in their own work by November 2004. ENERGIA will provide backstopping to the trainees in implementing these action plans. The comments of the trainees and the observations of the ENERGIA technical advisors will be used to fine-tune the two training modules. A full report of the training workshop will be available shortly at the ENERGIA Secretariat. Contact the secretariat.
CTA support to Pacific Energy and Gender (PEG) Network
CTA (Technical Centre for Rural and Agricultural Cooperation) has committed funds to a project of the PEG Network that aims at raising awareness on gender issues in the energy sector. The project will develop and distribute information material in the region, feature gender and energy related articles in the Pacific Energy Newsletter (PEN), develop a web site for the PEG, and document and share successful cases. More information can be obtained from Yogita Bhikabhai
New features on www.energia.org
Recently ENERGIA has introduced some new features on its web site to enable visitors to find the information they are looking for more efficiently. The Annotated Bibliographies and the Publications on Gender and Sustainable Energy are now searchable.
To search for publications...
To find entries in the bibliography...
ENERGIA News
We are looking for interesting case studies for the theme issue on Gender, Energy and Water to be published in early 2005. The issue will look at how energy in the water sector affects health, economic opportunities, empowerment and security for both women and men, within the overarching goal of poverty reduction and sustainable development.
If you wish to contribute an article to this issue, 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
Sparknet E-Conference on Energy-Poverty Scenarios, 27 September - 7 October 2004
Sparknet is a multi-stakeholder interactive Knowledge Network focusing on how people, in the context of acute poverty, can gain access to better energy services and improve their livelihoods.
Sparknet will be holding an email conference to discuss future energy-poverty scenarios in Southern and Eastern Africa between 27 September and 7 October 2004. This conference is a prelude to an online policy conference scheduled for February/ March 2005. Read more and sign up for the conference at SPARKNET's website
Questions can be directed to Liz Bates or Grant Ballard-Tremeer
Energetic Solutions, November 21-27, 2004, Port Harcourt, Obudu Plateau, Nigeria
This International Conference being coordinated by Onesky and the Canadian Environmental Network International Programme aims at making renewable energy a reality. It is a follow up to the Renewables 2004 International Conference held in Bonn, Germany in May this year. Participanst will be provided hands-on experience by developing a renewable energy plan for the Obudu Plateau. Among the subjects discussed will be gender equity and renewable energies and capacity development. The number of participants is limited and will be selected through a competitive selection process.
More details and application forms...
Energy for Development, 12 - 14 December, Noordwijk, the Netherlands
This world conference is being organised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Housing, Spatial Planning and Environment of the Netherlands, in close collaboration with the World Bank, UNDP and the World Business Council on Sustainable Development. It will address investment needs in the energy sector, barriers to investment and ways of overcoming them. It aims to put energy more firmly on the development agenda and to explore the contributions that can be made by the various local and international stakeholders. ENERGIA has been invited to participate in this conference.
More...
Projects/Programmes/Awards
Enabling Urban Poor Livelihoods Policymaking: Understanding the Role of Energy Services
This research study, funded by DFID-KaR, started in December 2003 and will last for 23 months. The aim of the project is to provide a clear understanding, based on micro-level gender disaggregated data, of the issues around urban energy supply and its use for poor people's livelihoods strategies. The research team is headed by the Technology and Development Group (TDG), University of Twente in the Netherlands, and will work with partners from Nigeria, Brazil and the Philippines, all ENERGIA members. Findings of the study will form the core content of an ENERGIA News issue of 2005.
For more information contact Joy Clancy or visit http://www.utwente.nl/tdg
Ashden Awards 2005
The Ashden awards for Sustainable Energy reward outstanding and innovative renewable energy projects. Four of the five awards given annually are for projects in developing countries in the categories: food, light, education, health and enterprise. Inspiring stories of the Ashden Overseas Awards 2004 winners can be read at: http://www.ashdenawards.org/finalist04.html
The application process for the Ashden Overseas Awards 2005 has begun. It is a two-tiered process. Interested applicants have to submit a preliminary concept note, which will be screened by the judges. Selected applicants will be then invited to submit a detailed application form. Application forms, eligibility criteria, time table and other information available at: http://www.ashdenawards.org/apply_int.html, or contact info@ashdenawards.org
Publications/Proceedings
Climate Change, Health and Gender - Fact Sheet
Heike Spohr, Genanet/Life e.V., Frankfurt, Germany, August 2004
The fact sheet has been written in order to stimulate discussion in the WECF working group “Gender, Energy and Climate Change”. Despite lack of gender disaggregated data and specific gender research, the author attempts to provide basic information on the topic and look at climate change through “gender obstacles”.
Read the article...
Powerful Connections - Gender and Renewable Energies
Life e.V. and WECF(Women in Europe for a Common Future)
This leaflet summarising arguments for the integration of gender issues into renewable energy policies and measures in industrialised countries was prepared for Renewables 2004.
View...
Increasing Gender Sensitivity when Planning for Energy and Transport Services
Mattias Nordstrom
This article appears in the May 2004 issue of Renewable Energy for Development, the newsletter of the Stockholm Energy Institute's Energy Programme. It is based on discussions at the side event organised by the Swedish Ministry of Environment on behalf of the Network for Women Ministers for the Environment, for which SEI prepared a discussion paper.
View article...
Printed copies of the newsletter can be obtained free of charge by contacting Solveig Nilsson
The full report of the seminar can be found on www.sei.se
Women, Health and Environment, August 2004
The latest edition of UNEP's “Our Planet” magazine focuses on women, health and the environment. It deals with the unique vulnerability of women to environment-related health problems, from water and sanitation issues to indoor air pollution. In this context, the need for gender mainstreaming is given high priority.
View the magazine...
Gender and Urban Agriculture, May 2004
This issue of the Urban Agriculture Magazine on gender in urban agriculture carries several articles that could be useful for those involved in gender and urban energy.
Read the magazine...
Requests for printed copies can be addressed to the editor.
CDM and LULCF- What's in it for women?
Margaret Skutch, July 2004
This note written for the Gender and Climate Change Network attempts to highlight the gender implications of current CDM policy, focusing particularly on the LULCF sector. It examines the question:”Are the technologies likely to be promoted under CDM, particularly LULCF projects under CDM, going to provide environmental, social and economic benefits that meet the particular needs of women?”
View the note...
From Stoves to Wealth - The Role of Commercialisation of Rural Stoves in Development and Poverty Reduction
Lydia Muchiri, Stephen Gitonga and Albert Waudo, ITDG-EA, 2003
This booklet is based on the experiences of ITDG-East Africa n supporting various groups in commercialising improved rural stoves on a sustainable basis. It provides easy to follow guidelines in setting up a viable stove marketing business and highlights the economic benefits that can be derived from such an enterprise. \
For copies contact itdgEA@itdg.or.ke
and visit the website to find out more about ITDG-EA's activities.
Working with Women at Risk - Practical Guidelines for Assessing Local Disaster Risk
E.Enarson, L.Mayreles, M.Gonzales et al., Laboratory for Social Science Research, International Hurricane Research Center, Florida International University, 2003
This manual is a step-by-step guide for assessing the resources and vulnerabilities of communities “through the eyes of women”. It includes a community-based model with the following steps: a) identification of a local community women's group to take on the project; b) training of women from the group as community researchers; c) guidelines for using various research strategies to collect original data about local hazards and risk; d) ideas for synthesising and utilising the findings.
The manual's research guidelines can act as a tool for others interested in planning, conducting, and carrying out gender-focused community vulnerability research.
View...
New Contributions to the Analysis of Poverty: Methodological and Conceptual Challenges to Understanding Poverty from a Gender Perspective
Sylvia Chant, United Nations, 2003
The overall aim of the paper is to outline the major methodological and conceptual challenges to understanding poverty from a gender perspective. The paper is divided into three sections namely a) engendering poverty analysis through three decades of feminist research; b) Challenges to understanding poverty from a gender perspective; c) Future directions for research and policy.
View...
Internet Resources
Oxfam UK's gender pages
Gender equality is a key issue that Oxfam UK works on, with gender mainstreaming a corporate priority. There are many interesting resources on the gender page(s) of their site, including Links - a newsletter on Oxfam GB's work on gender and development in over 70 countries worldwide and Gender and Development - a thematic journal that comes out three times a year. A full list of Oxfam's gender publications can also be accessed at this web page.
United Nations Non-Governmental Liaison Service
This new website seeks to provide civil society organisations with the latest information on the work of the UN System, its agencies and relevant intergovernmental processes. In addition to accessing NGLS publications, you can also now obtain a number of featured UN publications and civil society reports, including official reports on the status of the implementation of major commitments undertaken at UN conferences over the last decade.
Visit the site...
Feedback on the site and any additional information that you may like to see reflected on it can be forwarded to: ngls@unctad.org
INSTRAW - United Nations International Research and Training Institute for the Advancement of Women
The new website of INSTRAW was launched in July this year. The website can be accessed in English, Spanish and French. The website provides access to useful gender training material.
News from Donors
UNESCO Small Grants Programme on “Poverty Reduction - Building National Capacities for Research and Policy Analysis”
The goal of this grant programme is to encourage mid-career professionals and their institutions to contribute to poverty eradication strategies and national action plans that are based on a human rights framework. The programme targets researchers in selected UN Member States in sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia and in parts of Latin America and the Carribbean least likely to achieve the Millennium Development Goals of halving extreme. The maximum grant per project is US$10,000 to professionals at universities, research centres, Government departments, NGOs etc.
Information on the application procedure, funding and eligibility...
Deadline for application is 31 October 2004.
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 30 November 2004.
More..., or email Peter Ritchie, seed initiative secretariat, c/o Stakeholder Forum for our Common Future, UK.
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