National Workshop on Gender Empowerment and Entrepreneurial Development in the Rural Context: The Role of Renewable Energy

The Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) is working on a “Regional Initiative for Promoting Small-Scale Renewable Energy Applications in rural areas of the Arab region (REGEND)”. This regional initiative is a Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida) funded project and aims to improve the livelihood, economic benefits, social inclusion and gender equality of Arab rural communities particularly marginalized groups, by addressing energy poverty, water scarcity and vulnerability to climate change and other natural resources challenges in three targeted countries, namely Jordan, Lebanon and Tunisia. Women empowerment and gender equality constitute an integral part of REGEND’s activities and expected outputs and are considered a cross-cutting priority along the various phases of its implementation.
 
In this context, ESCWA is organizing a national workshop on “Gender Empowerment and Entrepreneurial Development in the Rural Context: The Role of Renewable Energy”, to convene key partners, energy entities and local rural communities to:

1. review the findings and outcomes of the country gender assessment study launched in early 2019,
2. discuss the potential benefits of realizing the rights of marginalized groups in rural areas,
3. create synergies between key sectors (energy, water, agricultural, tourism, services, industries, etc.),
4. share experiences and foster learning between stakeholders and participants on the challenges and opportunities facing women empowerment and entrepreneurial development in the energy sector and opportunities that renewable energy could offer,
5. to identify key experts and practitioners to be part of the gender-based advisory network on energy and entrepreneurial skills in rural development at the national and Arab regional level, and
6. formulate actionable recommendations for mainstreaming gender in policy planning, capacity building, and awareness raising for rural areas.

The recommendations of the workshop will serve as the basis for suggesting a gender mainstreaming and human rights strategy and action plans to support policy makers, government and local institutions in operationalizing a gender equality and human rights approach in the energy sector in Arab countries. These elements will serve in developing the capacity building programs and awareness-raising campaigns to be undertaken under REGEND and to be suggested for local/public institutions for follow-up after the project completion to ensure sustainability. The National Workshop’s outcomes will also feed into the process of establishing the gender-based advisory network on energy and entrepreneurial skills in rural development that will support in applying the aforementioned gender mainstreaming and human rights strategy and action plans.