News
The recognition that women and their dependent children make up the majority of those living in poverty has brought gender equality to the forefront of the global development agenda, including in energy programs.
In many developing countries women continue to bear the brunt of a lack of access to modern energy services. This includes having to travel increasingly long distances to collect rapidly dwindling sources of fuel, being exposed to harmful fumes when cooking, and a shortage of income-generating opportunities outside the home.
As such, the gender dimension of access to services and benefits is increasingly being recognized as an important element to be considered in effective energy sector policy making and project design.
To help policy-makers and project designers integrate gender equity considerations into energy sector programs, ESMAP has recently produced a Briefing Note and a series of online resources and guidance tools.
The briefing note, Integrating Gender Considerations into Energy Operations, discusses the key elements of the gender-energy topic and provides country level examples where gender considerations can be incorporated into the design and execution of energy programs. It draws on recent experience within the World Bank and elsewhere in mainstreaming gender in energy projects, and looks at three key areas: assessment, action, and monitoring and evaluation.
The online compendium accompanying the briefing note provides a range of basic tools such as sample questionnaires, checklists and terms of reference that energy and social development practitioners—both within the World Bank and elsewhere—can use when considering how best to integrate gender considerations when planning energy sector programs.
To help demonstrate the results on the ground, a video has been developed highlighting a participatory energy management project in Senegal that included gender equity as one of its key development objectives.
This work is part of ESMAP’s Africa Renewable Energy and Access (AFREA) gender and energy program where teams have been piloting gender activities within energy programs in Senegal, Mali, Benin, Tanzania and Kenya.
As the video shows, mother of seven Mareitou Ndiagya describes how business has flourished since she was instructed on how to sell sustainable charcoal made from dead branches instead of firewood.
“When I sell a truck of charcoal, I have double the amount of money I had selling wood,” she says.
Looking ahead, ESMAP is developing a program on Gender and Social Inclusion which will integrate gender considerations across its programs. Work will include detailed assessments of gender issues and impacts in energy sector reform, pricing and large infrastructure projects. The primary objective of the program is to establish a core body of evidence to demonstrate how promoting improved gender equality in energy projects can improve development outcomes.
Related Links