Gender, Energy and Water Network (GEW Net), Nepal

1. Gender, Energy and Water Network (GEW Net), Nepal Ganesh Ram Shrestha Executive Director Centre for Rural Technology, Nepal www.crtnepal.org ENERGIA - Gender and Energy Policy and Practitioners Meet, 12-13 December 2011, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

2. Overview of Presentation • Historical background • Objectives and operational modality • A decade of GEW Net: 2002 - 2011 • Highlight of key activities • Impacts and outcomes • Challenges • Lessons learned and way forward

3. History of GEW Net • National Consultative Workshop held in August 2002 and GEW Net was established • Informal meeting initiated ENERGIA Network in Nepal • Formation of Steering Committee & Resource Team • Formation of Advisory Committee • CRT/N Designated as National Focal Point of ENERGIA for Nepal

4. Vision and Mission Vision To achieve a gender sensitive and gender responsive development of energy and water sector in Nepal. Mission To promote equitable access, control and decision-making in development sector in the utilization and management of energy and water sector by addressing gender gaps in existing policies and practices.

5. Objective The main objective of GEWNet is to establish and strengthen networking of development institutions/ individuals involved in energy and water sector for: • Advocating and advising for integrating gender concerns • Lobbying for resource mobilization to integrate gender concerns in energy and water sector • Documentation and exchange of information to increase gender awareness • Promotion of gender friendly technologies • Sensitization and capacity enhancement of network members/ institutions on gender issues

6. Operational Modality of Gender Energy and Water Network (GEWNet) ENERGIA International Secretariat Advisory Board(Representing different organizations) Asia Regional Network Coordinator GEWNet Secretariat Core Group Institutional members Studentsmembers Individual Members

7. Working Areas of GEW Net • Networking • Capacity building • Mainstreaming gender in energy projects • Policy influencing

8. A Decade of GEW Net: 2002-2011 • 2007/08 • CRT/N as ENERGIA Asia Regional Secretariat (ARS) • Seed Funding Activities • Strategy Paper on Gender and Social Inclusion for AEPC/ESAP • Support to Students for Thesis Works • 2009/11 • Advocacy for Gender Sensitive Energy Policy in Nepal • Seed Funding Activities • Training on Capacity Enhancement of Rural Women and Entrepreneurship • Strategy for Mainstreaming Gender in Rural Energy Policies in Nepal • Support to Students for Thesis Works • 2002/03 • “National Consultative Workshop on Gender in Relation to Energy & Water in Nepal • Awareness raising and information sharing. • 2004/05 • Workshop on Gender Mainstreaming in Water and Energy Initiatives • Establishment of Resource Centre • 2006 • National Paper on “Prospects and Challenges of Gender Mainstreaming in the Energy Sector for Achieving the Millennium Development Goals “ • Training on Gender Audit • Gender Tools Testing in Improved Water Mill Program

9. Stakeholders / Members of Network • Stakeholders / Members: 57 • Institutional • Individual • Students

10. Highlights of Key Activities -Capacity Building • National Training Workshop on Mainstreaming Gender Concerns in Energy Projects in Nepal • Targeted to ESAP, REDP,BSP-N Managers/Officers • Knowledge and skills of energy project managers enhanced • Action plan developed to integrate gender in different energy projects • National energy programs of Nepal became gender sensitive (REDP, ESAP) Main output: Gender Integration at Programs of AEPC/ESAP is a Positive Sign and is a Starting Step

11. Capacity Building…… • Training on Gender Mainstreaming in Energy Project, Gender Audit and Gender Responsive Budget (Targeted to AEPC and REDP staffs (DEEO/DEEA) • Student Support Program • Capacitated new generation (students) in gender concerns through field research, orientation/sharing • Students were provided financial and technical support to conduct masters level thesis • Collaborative relationship established with academic institutions

12. Policy Influencing • Advocacy for Gender Sensitive Energy Policy in Nepal • Ministry of Environment formulated a "Gendered Rural Energy Strategy 2011“ supported by ENERGIA • Recommendations made for gender-sensitive policies and data disaggregated for gender • Support in operationalizing National Indoor Air Quality Standards Guidelines which have been approved by the Ministry of Environment. • Strategy for Gender Mainstreaming and Social Inclusion in AEPC/ESAP • Sensitized AEPC/ESAP staffs through Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI) Strategy Paper in 2008 Main output: Ministry of Environment and AEPC has given importance to formalize gender concerns at policy level

13. Collaborative Partnership Sensitized program staffs on gender concerns in Energy Projects and enhanced capabilities of rural women in collaboration with partners for : • Improved Water Mill Program • Biogas Support Program • Rural Energy Development Program • Hydraulic Ram Pump Project

14. Collaborative …….continued Awareness creation • School Education on Energy and Environment Project • Initiated by CRT/N in collaboration with educational institutions • Influenced by student support program of GEW Net • Sessions on gender and energy to aware students and teachers • Climate Change, Energy Access and Technology Transfer in Nepal • Preparation of National level Inventory Report with collaboration of ETC Foundation • Illustrates impact of the technology on mitigation and adaptation aspects of climate changes • Inventory of climate proofing technologies

15. Publications Publication ofBrochure Compilation of Good Practices Women & Technology Manual GEW Net Newsletter Inventory Preparation

16. Approaches that has worked • Organizing Programs in Collaboration with Network Members (GO, I/NGO, Multilateral Program) • Partnership with AEPC/ESAP, REDP, BSP-N during national training workshop • Partnership with IAP Heath Forum/ Practical Action for Advocacy for Gender Sensitive Rural Energy Policy in Nepal • Involvement of High Level Officials (Program Managers) in Sensitizing Programs • National training workshop s • Formation of Advisory Committee with Members of Partner organizations and Government • Advocacy for Gender Sensitive Rural Energy Policy in Nepal • Collaboration with Academic Institutions • Student support program

17. Challenges • Acceptance of Gender Mainstreaming needs at the policy level • Difficulty in translating learning into practice and at policy level • Need strengthening of capacity and actions at community level • Inadequate financial resources during growth period • High expectation of members from the network • Resource mobilization for sustaining the network • Capacity enhancement of members and institutions

18. Impacts and Outputs • Policy Level • Outputs from capacity building, advocacy and field based activities are used as evidence to influence government policy • "Gendered Rural Energy Strategy 2011“ formulated • Organizational / Programlevel • Network brought together several strong organisations with different agendas but ‘Gender’ as cross cutting issue: water mills, clean air, training students • Good relationship with academia that open up opportunities for future collaboration (student support program) • Nepal’s rural energy sector is gender sensitized • Grass-root Level • The situation from the field are documented illustrating the actual conditions and needs of rural people that help in raising the voice of grass root level stakeholders (IWMP case studies, Inventory on climate proofing technologies) • Understanding the needs of rural women and men, capacity enhancement trainings are provided (Entrepreneurship training to rural women of IWMP area)

19. Lessons Learned and Way Forward • Policy support and commitment from Government and International Community are vital • Information/experience sharing, capacity building are insufficiently integrated/addressed at policy and practiced at implementation level • Integration of gender issues in other development sectors needed ( water, health and agriculture etc….. • Student support program is a good collaborative approach with academic institutions to work on common ground of the pertaining issue of gender • Influence on national energy sector clearly seen but impact on people’s lives more difficult to assess • Strong network partners stimulate national gender and energy debates in Nepal • Need for evidence based lobbying, community based actions