Events

Organized jointly by:

ESMAP, GP Social, Urban, Rural & Resilience, and Energy Subsidy Reform Online Community

Brown Bag Lunch:  Gender-Informed Energy Subsidies Reforms Report:

Findings from Qualitative Studies in

Europe and Central Asia  

Wednesday, September 30, 2015  |  12:00 - 1:30 PM  |  Room I 10 –420

Since the 1990s, most states in Europe and Central Asia (ECA) have embarked on energy sector reforms. One of the main goals of these reforms has been to eliminate unsustainable subsidies and bring energy tariffs closer to cost recovery levels. The World Bank has initiated a number of poverty and social impact studies of energy tariff reforms; however, there was scarce evidence on gender-differentiated impacts. Global studies suggest that men and women have different energy needs and priorities and that attention to these differences can enhance policy benefits to both genders. 

In 2013-14, 208 focus groups and 131 interviews were carried out with men and women in 8 ECA states to better understand gender sensitivities in energy reforms. Specifically, these discussions explored whether energy price increases are experienced differently by men and women; use of different coping mechanisms by gender; and gender trends in knowledge, attitudes, and access to relevant institutions.The findings were summarized in the report “Toward Gender-Informed Energy Subsidy Reforms: Findings from Qualitative Studies in Europe and Central Asia”.  This BBL shared the main findings of the report, disseminated key messages, and discussed recommendations.

Opening Remarks:  

Maninder Gill, Director (Global Practice Social, Urban, Rural and Resilience) 

Speaker:

Sophia Georgieva, Social Development Specialist, Europe and Central Asia (Global Practice, Social, Urban, Rural and Resilience)  | Presentation

Discussants:  

Caterina Ruggeri Laderchi, Senior Economist, Europe and Central Asia (Global Practice, Poverty) 

Raluca Georgiana Golumbeanu, Infrastructure Specialist, GPOBA

Download the report.

* This BBL was organized in collaboration with the Energy Subsidy Reform Online Community (ESROC). For further information please contact esroc@worldbank.org