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Gender, Energy And Water Network (Gewnet)

  • Posted on September 26, 2020

Background

The Gender Energy and Water Network (GEWNet) was established in Nepal as an output of the National Consultative Workshop held in August 2002. It was initiated with support from ENERGIA/Hivos, International Network on Gender and Sustainable Energy where Centre for Rural Technology, Nepal (CRT/N) hosts the Secretariat of the Network as the National Focal Point. Steering Committee, Advisory Committee and Resource Team were formed after the establishment of the network. Several organizations and individuals who actively took part to enhance the role of Gender, Energy and Water management in Nepal joined the network.

With the changed context of the country, CRT/N, with the consultation among the members and partners, has revived and restructured Gender, Energy and Water Network under Green Inclusive Energy (GIE) Programme to contribute to the sustainable and integrated rural development with on-going and upcoming initiatives. The current development discourse emphasizes the need for green and clean energy systems for ensuring inclusive and sustainable development. Global commitment to SEforALL is a testament to the growing realization that not just any energy, but clean and just energy system is what we need to ensure prosperity and inclusive development. In order to contribute to this initiative, CRT/N intends to undertake a facilitative role in bringing inclusivity, renewable energy and productive use of energy in the forefront of the national development discourse in Nepal.

This network focuses on specific lobby and advocacy goals (influencing policies and practices of market and government actors) as well as on strengthening advocacy capacities of civil society actors. It will also contribute in increasing gender inclusive use of renewable energy and water including appropriate technologies which will complement and contribute to Government of Nepal’s initiatives like Clean Cooking Solution for all by 2022, Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Sustainable Energy for all (SE4ALL).

Objective of the Network and Scope of Work
The primary objective of GEWNet is to contribute in attaining the main objective of Gender and Inclusive Energy Programme (GIE) (Nepal Project) in Nepal by establishing and strengthening network of partner organizations of GIE along with the development institutions/individuals involved in renewable energy sector to:
  • Review policy gaps in GESI in renewable energy sector in Nepal;
  • Promote economic opportunities for women and men while mitigating climate change;
  • Influence the decision makers in policy making process for gender sensitive participation;
  • Increase gender awareness integrating Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI); component through documentation and exchange of information;
  • Promote gender friendly technologies and approaches and
  • Sensitize and enhance capacity of network members/ institutions on gender issues.

There are few key areas which will be focused on and worked on under this network for the year 2019 that can be categorized into following broad heading:

  1. Evidence based Advocacy Project
  2. Strengthening of network
  3. Capacity Building

Specific Scope of activities within each of these categories is:

Lobby/ Advocacy
Publication of articles on energy, gender and water issues.
Publication of bi-annual newsletters of GEWNet.
Publication of articles on the basis of researches conducted by students in 2018.
Revision of TOC and outcome harvesting. (ENERGIA and GIE Team)
Conduct presentations in the areas of Gender, Energy/ Water by the experts in respective fields.
Conduct Radio Programs covering successful stories of women entrepreneurs. (EWEE)
Development of case studies focusing the area of GIE and EWEE.
Strengthening of network
Conduct annual meeting with GEWNet partners for strengthening of the network.
Conduct bi-annual meetings with advisory group.

Capacity Building
Photography and Info graphics Training
Conduct a consultative workshop (talk programme) among partners on raising awareness, information and discussion on gender, energy and water uses in agriculture facilitated by an energy/water expert.
Financial and technical support to students the students for the development of research in the area of gender, energy or water.

The network members are:

Advisory Group

  1. Mr. Vishwa Bhusan Amatya
  2. Dr. Krishna Raj Shrestha
  3. Ms. Padmasana Shakya
  4. Dr. Ram Prasad Dhital
  5. Mr. Ganesh Ram Shrestha
  6. Ms. Sharu Joshi
  7. Dr. Ananda Shova Tamrakar

Institutional Members

  1. National Association of Community Electricity Users, Nepal (NACEUN)
  2. Indoor Air Pollution and Health Forum (IAPHF)
  3. National Federation of Environmental Journalists (NEFEJ)
  4. Renewable Energy Confederation Nepal (RECON)
  5. Practical Action Nepal
  6. Alternative Energy Promotion Centre (AEPC)
  7. Minergy
  8. Environment and Public Health Organization (ENPHO)
  9. Gender Studies Programme, Tribhuvan University
  10. UNWomen
  11. Krishna Grill and Engineering Works P.vt. Ltd.

Individual Members

  1. Dr. Ashma Vaidya
  2. Ms. Babita Adhikari
  3. Ms. Lachana Shresthacharya
  4. Ms. Manjari Shrestha
  5. Ms. Nigma Tamrakar
  6. Mr. Sahajman Shrestha
  7. Ms. Bina Kharel
  8. Mr. Piyush Sharma

Key Outcomes
Some of the key outcomes that this network will pursue are listed as follows:
  • Support in obtaining goals and objectives of GIE programme, SE4All and SDG
  • Information sharing and knowledge management;
  • Knowledge enhancement of new generation and collaborative relationship with academic institutions;
  • Gender-inclusive energy planning and policies where women can participate in policy formulation is supported and
  • Regular contacts and communication among members with updated information.