Access to clean energy and cooking technologies is pivotal for people’s livelihoods and a sustainable, equal and equitable socio-economic development. In this realm, women play a key role in the promotion, deployment and progress of clean energy. However, because of cultural norms, they experience social, political, and economic barriers, further hindering their participation in and contribution to the sector.

Beyond being a global health crisis, the COVID-19 crisis has highlighted and magnified inequalities and the multiple forms of discrimination that women and girls face. ENERGIA and partners have gathered and analyzed information from the field and from available sources, on the impacts of COVID-19 on women and energy access. Please find here our briefing note and a summary here. We are now working with national and international allies to bring a gender focus to the COVID-19 response and ensure that women and marginalized groups’ voices are heard.

Join us in urging governments and other stakeholders to take action and apply a gender lens to the COVID-19 response and recovery plans. Help us to spread the word by using the following content. 

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With #COVID19 women do even more unpaid care work in their homes than before (@UN_Women). Making electrical appliances that reduce the workload available and affordable for women is urgently needed ➡️ https://energia.org/new-energia-partners-covid-19-briefing-paper/

RE companies and energy agencies need to differentiate between 🚺 & 🚹 employees in targeting #COVID19 response and recovery policies and practices, as their hygiene and safety needs differ. Keeping everyone safe must be a priority ➡️ https://energia.org/new-energia-partners-covid-19-briefing-paper

Exposure to indoor air pollution can make #COVID19 and similar respiratory diseases worse. Access to #cleancooking solutions is crucial to prevent health impacts and ensure the transition to a universal sustainable, clean and inclusive energy sector. https://energia.org/new-energia-partners-covid-19-briefing-paper/
 

Women energy entrepreneurs are key in last-mile distribution, due to their unique ability to drive change within their communities. To ensure continuity of their business, #COVID19 recovery packages must include direct support to their activities. https://energia.org/new-energia-partners-covid-19-briefing-paper/

#COVID19 requires participating in a digitized labor market. Access to mobile and digital technology is essential for empowering women and facilitating access to critical services that can keep them and their businesses afloat. https://energia.org/new-energia-partners-covid-19-briefing-paper/

To reach universal access to energy by 2030, women must have a place at the table in general and post-COVID-19 energy transition decision making, planning and implementation. https://energia.org/new-energia-partners-covid-19-briefing-paper/

Gender-based violence has increased exponentially (@UN_Women) during the pandemic. Women need to be able to communicate and to stay informed about how to keep themselves safe, as well as about government measures. https://energia.org/new-energia-partners-covid-19-briefing-paper/

#COVID19 has put extra pressure on healthcare facilities. Scaling up electricity access through new technologies and funding is crucial to the developing countries’ COVID-19 response. https://energia.org/new-energia-partners-covid-19-briefing-paper/

Visit www.energia.org/covid-19 for further information.