Gender, Energy And Water Network (Gewnet)
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).
- 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:
- Evidence based Advocacy Project
- Strengthening of network
- Capacity Building
Specific Scope of activities within each of these categories is:
The network members are:
Advisory Group
- Mr. Vishwa Bhusan Amatya
- Dr. Krishna Raj Shrestha
- Ms. Padmasana Shakya
- Dr. Ram Prasad Dhital
- Mr. Ganesh Ram Shrestha
- Ms. Sharu Joshi
- Dr. Ananda Shova Tamrakar
Institutional Members
- National Association of Community Electricity Users, Nepal (NACEUN)
- Indoor Air Pollution and Health Forum (IAPHF)
- National Federation of Environmental Journalists (NEFEJ)
- Renewable Energy Confederation Nepal (RECON)
- Practical Action Nepal
- Alternative Energy Promotion Centre (AEPC)
- Minergy
- Environment and Public Health Organization (ENPHO)
- Gender Studies Programme, Tribhuvan University
- UNWomen
- Krishna Grill and Engineering Works P.vt. Ltd.
Individual Members
- Dr. Ashma Vaidya
- Ms. Babita Adhikari
- Ms. Lachana Shresthacharya
- Ms. Manjari Shrestha
- Ms. Nigma Tamrakar
- Mr. Sahajman Shrestha
- Ms. Bina Kharel
- Mr. Piyush Sharma
- 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.