1.4 How Does this Guide Fit into ENERGIA’s Activities?

Information Dissemination and Exchange

Sharing information about gender and energy concerns in various regions and development contexts is one of ENERGIA’s primary goals. Since 1995, ENERGIA has been active in linking individuals and organisations in Africa, Asia, Latin America, and Oceania, as well as in Europe, North America, and Australia. Ground-breaking papers and reports prepared by ENERGIA organisers and members have drawn global attention to the importance of considering gender issues in energy development plans and policies. ENERGIA News has also been an important vehicle for sharing insights and experiences from projects in various regions. This toolkit and resource guide represents an ongoing effort to bring together and present materials that deal with gender and energy issues and describe a variety of approaches to addressing those issues.

Capability Development on Gender and Energy

Because access to affordable and reliable energy services is essential for poverty alleviation and economic and social development, ENERGIA works to focus more attention on gender and energy linkages in the formulation of national energy plans and policies. The main objective of Phase 3 of ENERGIA’s work is to strengthen ENERGIA members’ capacity to integrate gender and energy concerns into the policies and programmes of government institutions, NGOs, knowledge institutions, multilateral and bilateral donors, and private companies engaged in sustainable development in the South and the North. More specifically, ENERGIA’s programme will focus on enhancing the knowledge and skills of network members in the South.

Development of Gender and Energy Knowledge Resources and Tools

Involvement in the preparation of this toolkit and resource guide represents part of ENERGIA’s work in developing knowledge resources on gender and energy; it builds on the Network’s earlier activities, which focused on disseminating information to Network members, target groups, and other interested parties. ENERGIA has already supported a number of activities designed to raise the awareness of policymakers and planners in the energy sector, and is committed to building up a body of evidence and case studies linking gender sensitivity in energy policy and projects with equitable, efficient, and sustainable development outcomes.