Gender and Energy Research Programme

What

ENERGIA’s Gender and Energy Research programme explores the linkages between gender, energy and poverty through empirical research, with the objective to translate this evidence into recommendations for energy policy and practice.

Why

Energy is central to tackling almost every major global challenge, and access to energy (SDG 7) is widely considered to be a key enabler for reaching the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). For this to happen however, it is critical to improve energy interventions so that they better meet the demands of women and make better use of their capacities. Energy access can then also contribute immensely to reaching SDG 5, which aims to “achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls”, as it enables improved livelihoods. ENERGIA firmly believes that by addressing SDG 5 and SDG 7 jointly, multiple development outcomes can be achieved.

Results so far

The programme coordinated research conducted by nine consortia that included research institutions, NGOs and private companies, in 12 countries across Asia and Africa. The final reports from each research project are now available, as is the synthesis report which presents overall findings and policy implications.

• Research project 1 puts a spotlight on the factors that contribute to the empowerment of women through different forms of electricity supply.
  Read more: Exploring factors that enhance and restrict women’s empowerment through electrification
• Research project 2 offers insights into energy use in the street food sector and how energy contributes to the economic and social aspirations of the men and women operating in this sector.
  Read more: Productive uses of energy in the street food sector
• Research project 3 explores the role that gender plays in the political economy analysis of access and use of modern energy services, primarily in clean cooking and agriculture.
  Read more: Gender factor in political economy of energy sector dynamics
• Research project 4 looks at the impact of kerosene and LPG subsidies (and their reform) from a gender perspective, and considers factors that need be taken into consideration to ensure that subsidies reach poor women.
  Read more: Gender and Fossil Fuels Subsidy Reform
• Research project 5 presents new insights that involving women as entrepreneurs in the renewable energy sector can positively impact businesses and provide positive welfare impacts on their households.
  Read more: Female microenterprise creation and business models for private sector distribution of low-cost off-grid LED lighting
• Research project 6 presents new evidence that shows that interventions promoting productive use of electricity (PUE) without gender approaches are more likely to benefit male-run than women-run enterprises, and provides recommendations to ensure equal benefits for women and men.
  Read more: Unlocking the benefits of productive uses of energy
• Research project 7 is a literature study showing that energy entrepreneurship can transform women’s lives and captures key lessons learned on including women in energy supply as entrepreneurs to increase access to energy for all.
  Read more: Building the Evidence Base for Women’s Empowerment and Entrepreneurship to Improve Energy Interventions’ Effectiveness

The synthesis report of this programme presents the overall findings and policy implications. Read more about the synthesis report or download the full report.

Key findings from synthesis report are:

• Universal energy access targets are unlikely to be met unless energy policies are aligned to women’s as well as men’s energy needs, their assets, skills, limitations and capabilities, and existing gender norms;
• Involvement of women in energy system supply chains is good for women and their families, and it is good for business;
• Modern energy services for women’s productive uses contribute to women’s empowerment;
• End-use appliances that deliver modern energy services to reduce drudgery and save time can transform gender roles and relations;
• Improving the affordability, reliability, capacity and convenience of modern energy services can help achieve gender-equitable outcomes, and will be critical for universal energy access;
• Engaging with political processes can help women access modern energy services and change gender norms.

 Where

Research Project 1: India, Kenya, Nepal; Research Project 2: Rwanda, Senegal, South Africa; Research Project 3: India, Nepal; Research Project 4: Bangladesh, India, Nigeria; Research Project 5: Rwanda; Research Project 6: Ghana, Myanmar, Tanzania; Research Project 7: Worldwide

Period and donor

This five-year research programme on gender and energy (2014-2019) was supported by the UK’s Department for International Development (DFID) as part of its Sustainable Energy, Access and Gender (SEAG) programme

Synthesis Report                           Programme brochure

The ENERGIA Gender and Energy Research Programme is funded by the UK Department for International Development (DFID)

Programme news

NEW: Three-part webinar series on Gender and Energy Access

NEW: Gender in the transition to energy for all: From evidence to inclusive policies

Webinar: Women’s empowerment through access to modern energy

Bernadette, Virginie and Brigitte: Three energy entrepreneurs changing Rwanda one step at the time

Women-led enterprises in the energy sector: Findings and recommendations from ENERGIA meeting in Rwanda

Research projects receive Best Paper Awards at Diana International Entrepreneurship Research Conference

Read more about Research Programme

Publications

	ENERGIA Gender in the transition to sustainable energy for all: From evidence to inclusive policies Miscellaneous 2019. Links | BibTeX @misc{ENERGIA2019, title = { Gender in the transition to sustainable energy for all: From evidence to inclusive policies}, author = {ENERGIA}, url = {https://www.energia.org/cm2/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/Gender-in-the-transition-to-sustainable-energy-for-all_-From-evidence-to-inclusive-policies_FINAL.pdf}, year = {2019}, date = {2019-04-26}, keywords = {}, pubstate = {published}, tppubtype = {misc} } Close https://www.energia.org/cm2/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/Gender-in-the-transition-[...] Close
	Annemarije Kooijman, Jon Cloke, Joy Clancy Briefing Paper 3 - Needs, wants and values: Integrating gender with energy access Miscellaneous 2018. Links | BibTeX @misc{Kooijman2018, title = {Briefing Paper 3 - Needs, wants and values: Integrating gender with energy access}, author = {Annemarije Kooijman, Jon Cloke, Joy Clancy}, url = {https://www.energia.org/cm2/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Final-Gender_Low-Carbon-Energy-Network-Briefing-Paper-3-AW-web.pdf}, year = {2018}, date = {2018-12-01}, keywords = {}, pubstate = {published}, tppubtype = {misc} } Close https://www.energia.org/cm2/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Final-Gender_Low-Carbon-E[...] Close
	Sustainable Energy for All, ENERGIA Levers of Change: How Global Trends Impact Gender Equality and Social Inclusion in Access to Sustainable Energy Book 2018. Links | BibTeX @book{forAll2018, title = {Levers of Change: How Global Trends Impact Gender Equality and Social Inclusion in Access to Sustainable Energy}, author = {Sustainable Energy for All, ENERGIA}, url = {https://www.energia.org/cm2/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Levers-of-Change-How-Global-Trends-Impact-Gender-Equality-and-Social-Inclusion-in-Access-to-Sustainable-Energy.pdf}, year = {2018}, date = {2018-05-02}, keywords = {}, pubstate = {published}, tppubtype = {book} } Close https://www.energia.org/cm2/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Levers-of-Change-How-Glob[...] Close
	Soma Dutta, Annemarije Kooijman, Elizabeth Cecelski SEAR Special Feature - Energy access and gender: Getting the right balance. Miscellaneous 2017. Links | BibTeX @misc{Dutta2017, title = {SEAR Special Feature - Energy access and gender: Getting the right balance. }, author = {Soma Dutta, Annemarije Kooijman, Elizabeth Cecelski}, url = {http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/463071494925985630/pdf/115066-BRI-P148200-PUBLIC-FINALSEARSFGenderweb.pdf}, year = {2017}, date = {2017-05-15}, keywords = {}, pubstate = {published}, tppubtype = {misc} } Close http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/463071494925985630/pdf/115066-BRI-P148[...] Close
	J. Clancy, M. Stockbridge The Gender and Energy Research Programme: What we know so far and policy considerations Miscellaneous 2017. Abstract | Links | BibTeX @misc{Clancy2017, title = {The Gender and Energy Research Programme: What we know so far and policy considerations}, author = {J. Clancy, M. Stockbridge}, url = {https://www.energia.org/cm2/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Policybrief-Energia-March-GERP-2017-final-lr.pdf}, year = {2017}, date = {2017-03-31}, abstract = {Energy policy is usually gender-blind. This makes it harder to achieve SDG targets relating to gender equality and sustainable energy access for all. The Gender and Energy Research Programme is helping to build the knowledge that countries need in order to develop and reform their energy sectors in a more gender-sensitive way. Energy interventions affect men and women differently. Both can benefit substantially, but only if their differential needs and differing ability to access energy services are properly understood. Gendered approaches can help empower women and reduce poverty. They can help deliver energy interventions that are effective, efficient and sustainable. }, keywords = {}, pubstate = {published}, tppubtype = {misc} } Close Energy policy is usually gender-blind. This makes it harder to achieve SDG targets relating to gender equality and sustainable energy access for all. The Gender and Energy Research Programme is helping to build the knowledge that countries need in order to develop and reform their energy sectors in a more gender-sensitive way. Energy interventions affect men and women differently. Both can benefit substantially, but only if their differential needs and differing ability to access energy services are properly understood. Gendered approaches can help empower women and reduce poverty. They can help deliver energy interventions that are effective, efficient and sustainable. Close https://www.energia.org/cm2/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Policybrief-Energia-March[...] Close
	Joy Clancy, Nthabi Mohlakoana, Yacine Diagne Gueye Mainstreaming gender in energy sector policy and practice_FULL REPORT Journal Article 2016. Abstract | Links | BibTeX @article{Clancy2016, title = {Mainstreaming gender in energy sector policy and practice_FULL REPORT}, author = {Joy Clancy, Nthabi Mohlakoana, Yacine Diagne Gueye}, url = {https://www.energia.org/cm2/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/Mainstreaming-gender-in-energy-sector-policy-and-practice_FULL-REPORT.pdf}, year = {2016}, date = {2016-09-30}, abstract = {The ENERGIA network has for more than twenty years been building a substantial body of experience with approaches to gender mainstreaming in the energy sector. There is a need to document this experience in a systematic way that can be used to inform future work of ENERGIA, the network members and partners, and most importantly, other energy sector players. In order to do that, ENERGIA commissioned research by a small team of which the objective is to bring together lessons learned from gender approaches by ENERGIA and other organisations (in particular the World Bank’s Africa Renewable Energy and Access Program (AFREA) and the Asian Development Bank (ADB)). The ultimate aim is to increase ENERGIA’s effectiveness, enhance ENERGIA’s role in setting the stage for other organisations and to inform policy development and practice about successful gender mainstreaming approaches.}, keywords = {}, pubstate = {published}, tppubtype = {article} } Close The ENERGIA network has for more than twenty years been building a substantial body of experience with approaches to gender mainstreaming in the energy sector. There is a need to document this experience in a systematic way that can be used to inform future work of ENERGIA, the network members and partners, and most importantly, other energy sector players. In order to do that, ENERGIA commissioned research by a small team of which the objective is to bring together lessons learned from gender approaches by ENERGIA and other organisations (in particular the World Bank’s Africa Renewable Energy and Access Program (AFREA) and the Asian Development Bank (ADB)). The ultimate aim is to increase ENERGIA’s effectiveness, enhance ENERGIA’s role in setting the stage for other organisations and to inform policy development and practice about successful gender mainstreaming approaches. Close https://www.energia.org/cm2/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/Mainstreaming-gender-in-e[...] Close
	Joy Clancy, Nthabi Mohlakoana, Yacine Diagne Gueye Mainstreaming gender in energy sector policy and practice_EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Journal Article 2016. Abstract | Links | BibTeX @article{Clancy2016b, title = {Mainstreaming gender in energy sector policy and practice_EXECUTIVE SUMMARY}, author = {Joy Clancy, Nthabi Mohlakoana, Yacine Diagne Gueye}, url = {https://www.energia.org/cm2/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/Mainstreaming-gender-in-energy-sector-policy-and-practice_EXECUTIVE-SUMMARY.pdf}, year = {2016}, date = {2016-09-30}, abstract = {The ENERGIA network has for more than twenty years been building a substantial body of experience with approaches to gender mainstreaming in the energy sector. There is a need to document this experience in a systematic way that can be used to inform future work of ENERGIA, the network members and partners, and most importantly, other energy sector players. In order to do that, ENERGIA commissioned research by a small team of which the objective is to bring together lessons learned from gender approaches by ENERGIA and other organisations (in particular the World Bank’s Africa Renewable Energy and Access Program (AFREA) and the Asian Development Bank (ADB)). The ultimate aim is to increase ENERGIA’s effectiveness, enhance ENERGIA’s role in setting the stage for other organisations and to inform policy development and practice about successful gender mainstreaming approaches.}, keywords = {}, pubstate = {published}, tppubtype = {article} } Close The ENERGIA network has for more than twenty years been building a substantial body of experience with approaches to gender mainstreaming in the energy sector. There is a need to document this experience in a systematic way that can be used to inform future work of ENERGIA, the network members and partners, and most importantly, other energy sector players. In order to do that, ENERGIA commissioned research by a small team of which the objective is to bring together lessons learned from gender approaches by ENERGIA and other organisations (in particular the World Bank’s Africa Renewable Energy and Access Program (AFREA) and the Asian Development Bank (ADB)). The ultimate aim is to increase ENERGIA’s effectiveness, enhance ENERGIA’s role in setting the stage for other organisations and to inform policy development and practice about successful gender mainstreaming approaches. Close https://www.energia.org/cm2/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/Mainstreaming-gender-in-e[...] Close
	Anne Wheldon, Chhavi Sharma, Emily Haves, Ellen Dobbs, Sam Wheldon-Bayes Women and Sustainable Energy: How the work of Ashden Award winners impacts the lives of women and girls Technical Report Ashden, Energia, DFID 2015. Abstract | Links | BibTeX @techreport{Wheldon2015, title = {Women and Sustainable Energy: How the work of Ashden Award winners impacts the lives of women and girls}, author = {Anne Wheldon, Chhavi Sharma, Emily Haves, Ellen Dobbs, Sam Wheldon-Bayes}, editor = {Joy Clancy}, url = {https://www.energia.org/cm2/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/DFID-Energia-Ashden-Report-Public-Summary-Feb-2015-1.pdf}, year = {2015}, date = {2015-02-00}, institution = {Ashden, Energia, DFID}, abstract = {This Ashden report was commissioned by DFID, to inform the major DFID research programme on energy and gender - led by Energia - and to feed into DFID’s other existing and future work. The report draws upon the experiences of Ashden Award winners and has two aims. The first is to identify how access to energy affects the lives of women and girls. The second is to identify to what extent women are involved in the Award-winning enterprises and programmes, and the impact this has. The review showed that energy access provided by Ashden winners benefits both men and women, but women are likely to benefit more. This gendered impact relates, in part, to the traditional roles of women – as responsible for cooking, cleaning and other chores – and the greater time that they spend in the home. Ashden found a significant easing of these burdens through cutting the time and reducing the intensity of domestic tasks, and making the home a healthier, safer and more comfortable place. ‘Time’ was a notable benefit of increased energy access: saving time, making the use of time less arduous, extending the useful day and allowing women more choice in how to spend their time. Many women benefited disproportionately from technologies like TV and phone charging that increased their contact with the wider world. Access to electricity and agricultural technologies gave some women more opportunity for productive activities that increase their income, which is also important in changing gender roles. Formal employment in an energy access enterprise or programme may provide women with a greater income than they could earn through informal productive activities at home. This, combined with the status of having a ‘proper job’, most likely challenges gender roles. However, the income and working conditions of women who work as sales agents or in the supply chain are less clear. We found that the representation of women in Award-winning enterprises and programmes was low at all levels – particularly in leadership, but also in the workforce and supply chain. Discussions with 2014 winners suggested they had positive experiences of employing women and the low numbers were often not for a lack of trying. Barriers identified to employing women include cultural factors (eg husbands not allowing wives to work) and practical factors (eg safety travelling to work). One strong message that came from many 2014 Ashden winners was the value of involving women in the design process; they said that technologies to be used by women should be designed by women. This report identifies research gaps for further investigation, including more detailed studies on the employment and outsourcing of work to women by energy access enterprises, and a study of the long-term impact of energy access on women. We have also noted work related to the health impacts of stoves and educational impacts of solar lights.}, keywords = {}, pubstate = {published}, tppubtype = {techreport} } Close This Ashden report was commissioned by DFID, to inform the major DFID research programme on energy and gender - led by Energia - and to feed into DFID’s other existing and future work. The report draws upon the experiences of Ashden Award winners and has two aims. The first is to identify how access to energy affects the lives of women and girls. The second is to identify to what extent women are involved in the Award-winning enterprises and programmes, and the impact this has. The review showed that energy access provided by Ashden winners benefits both men and women, but women are likely to benefit more. This gendered impact relates, in part, to the traditional roles of women – as responsible for cooking, cleaning and other chores – and the greater time that they spend in the home. Ashden found a significant easing of these burdens through cutting the time and reducing the intensity of domestic tasks, and making the home a healthier, safer and more comfortable place. ‘Time’ was a notable benefit of increased energy access: saving time, making the use of time less arduous, extending the useful day and allowing women more choice in how to spend their time. Many women benefited disproportionately from technologies like TV and phone charging that increased their contact with the wider world. Access to electricity and agricultural technologies gave some women more opportunity for productive activities that increase their income, which is also important in changing gender roles. Formal employment in an energy access enterprise or programme may provide women with a greater income than they could earn through informal productive activities at home. This, combined with the status of having a ‘proper job’, most likely challenges gender roles. However, the income and working conditions of women who work as sales agents or in the supply chain are less clear. We found that the representation of women in Award-winning enterprises and programmes was low at all levels – particularly in leadership, but also in the workforce and supply chain. Discussions with 2014 winners suggested they had positive experiences of employing women and the low numbers were often not for a lack of trying. Barriers identified to employing women include cultural factors (eg husbands not allowing wives to work) and practical factors (eg safety travelling to work). One strong message that came from many 2014 Ashden winners was the value of involving women in the design process; they said that technologies to be used by women should be designed by women. This report identifies research gaps for further investigation, including more detailed studies on the employment and outsourcing of work to women by energy access enterprises, and a study of the long-term impact of energy access on women. We have also noted work related to the health impacts of stoves and educational impacts of solar lights. Close https://www.energia.org/cm2/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/DFID-Energia-Ashden-Repor[...] Close