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ENERGIA News Issue 1, December 1996
United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM)
UNIFEM, which works in autonomous association with UNDP, was established at the beginning of the UN Decade for Women in 1976. The fund promotes the economic and political empowerment of women in developing countries, and works to facilitate the participation of women at all levels of development, planning and practice. It also acts as a catalyst to focus attention on women's needs and concerns with the UN.
UNIFEM supports projects and programmes that aim to strengthen women's organisations and to improve women's legal status. It also aims to increase their access to information, credit and technologies.
In the case of energy, UNIFEM has supported many projects involving the introduction of energy saving technologies for women's economic empowerment (see Box 1). In Yemen for example, a Biogas project was supported, which benefited scores of women (see Box 2). UNIFEM has also published, with Intermediate Technology Publications (IT Publications), a series of Food Cycle Technology Source books, and is supporting the production and distribution of a new series of Energy and Environment Source books (see Box 3).
Other relevant activities of UNIFEM include research and documentation on women's indigenous knowledge and women's role in the management of natural resources. A source book on the subject has been published and women's indigenous knowledge in the Andean Region has been extensively documented.
Lis Joosten, Environment and Technology Officer, Economic Empowerment Programme, 304 East 45th Street, 6th Floor, New York, NY 10017, USA; Tel. +212.906.6400, Fax +212.906.6705, Email lis.joosten@undp.org
Box 1 - UNIFEM's Energy Projects
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Box 2 - The Impact of Biogas Technology on Rural Yemeni Women and their Environment In Yemen cattle, camels, sheep and goats form an integral part of the household economy, but the disposal of manure is linked to a number of health problems, as it contaminates local water supplies. Women's and children's health is also impaired by smoke and toxic carbon monoxide, released during cooking on woodfuel. In 1989, following a Dutch-funded feasability study, UNIFEM was invited to design a pilot biogas project in Al-Habeel Yemen, and 22 digesters were built. A participatory approach was taken in every aspect of this project, and women participated in committees in the selection of rights and studies of household sharing the biogas units, and the implementation and monitoring of extension programmes. Today these plants provide 75-80% of the energy requirements of the household, as well as fertilisers for the fields. Not only are the physical conditions of women improved: women have gained self-assurance through participation in the committees. An overview of UNIFEM project documents is available from:
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Box 3 - The Source books: joint project of UNIFEM and IT Publications UNIFEM Source Books take as their starting point women's specific energy and technology needs.These books are written by women from the South, and are meant for NGO's and fieldworkers working with women's groups.
Forthcoming:
Food Cycle Technology Source Books:
The first 5 titles, published in 1987-1989, are available in English, French and Portuguese. Titles 2 and 6 are also available in Spanish. IT Publications, 103-105 Southampton Row, LONDON WC1B 4HH, United Kingdom; Tel.+44.171.436.9761, Fax +44.171.436.2013, Email itpubs@gn.apc.org Organisations from the South can contact their regional UNIFEM or UNDP office for free copies. |
Box 4 - Lucy Khalema Redeby Lucy Khalema Redeby from the Lesotho Electricity Company is the author of the forthcoming source book on Electricity for household and micro-enterprise, on which she has worked with TOOLConsult and the technology and Development Group for three months. |
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