ENERGIA Advocacy Activities

and the Rio+20 process 

Gail Karlsson ENERGIA Senior Policy Advisor

Bridging the Gender Gap for Development Effectiveness in the Energy Sector

13 December 2011, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

 

Partners on the Women’s Steering Committee:      •  Voices of African Mothers       •  Women in Europe for a Common Future       •  Women’s Environment and Development Organization

Women from over 100 organizations have provided input on key issues and strategies

ENERGIA is a leading member of the Women’s Steering Committee for Rio+20

 This grew out of ENERGIA role as an organizing partner for the Women’s Major Group at the UN Commission on Sustainable Development in 2006-2007 on energy and climate change.

There are official openings for participation of Women and other “Major Groups”

   

ENERGIA has developed an innovative approach to advocacy

explaining the links between gender and energy   making recommendations on gender-sensitive policies, projects & activities

Organizing steps for UN Commission on Sustainable Development

• compiled country-specific evidence and recommendations based on national consultations with network members, energy experts, and government officials

• brought together experts from different countries to work in teams at meetings, with government representatives (including on delegations)

• supported team members after the meetings in following up on implementing recommendations at the national level.

Strategy 1

Building an adequate evidence base to support recommendations

Based on national consultations, network experiences, analyses of projects

ENERGIA has worked with partners to produce case studies, toolkits,

and training materials on gender

and energy.

 

For Rio+20, ENERGIA has provided analysis and recommendations for:

       • Statements at preparatory UN meetings in New York and UN regions

• March 2011 paper A Gender Perspective on the ‘Green Economy’  

     • November 2011 WMG input for the UN’s “zero draft” Outcome Document     

Next step for Rio+20 - compilation of successful projects and activities

as models of gender-sensitive good practices

to attract partners and funding for expansion, scaling up, replication

Strategy 2

Increasing representation of women from developing countries

Often there are few women from developing countries at international meetings, either among civil society groups or on government delegations.  

Being able to obtain funding for travel has been essential for effective team development, lobbying and building relationships with government delegations.

For Rio+20 - so far there has been little money for participation

We expect funding for travel costs to Rio+20 to be forthcoming under a Women’s Major Group proposal 

.

Strategy 3

Strengthening links with government officials and partners

Relationships with government delegations allow ENERGIA members to

-suggest language for governments to include in the negotiated texts

-follow up with their governments on integrating gender and energy in policies & projects

 

For Rio+20 - We need to build on our

existing relationships with governments

to ensure that our priorities are presented

during “informal” discussions where

only governments are involved  

We also need to collaborate with partners and

networks with similar interests

Results from advocacy

Greater awareness of the links

between gender and energy issues

Inclusion of gender-sensitive text

and recommendations in official

decisions and statements

ENERGIA’s recommendations implemented by governments and

institutions through:

* Project guidance - at the request of governments and project managers

* Adoption of gender-sensitive policies

(including through results of gender training and audits)

Investments in expanding energy access to provide benefits to women

including projects led by women and focused on women’s enterprises

The WMG Steering Committee prepared a

joint work plan for Rio+20 Engagement of Grassroots/Local Women:

* facilitating outreach and consultations

* supporting opportunities for participation and advocacy

Policy Recommendations and Advocacy:

* compiling and sharing inputs from diverse women’s perspectives

* drafting recommendations for action

* lobbying policymakers to push for inclusion of recommended text in the

outcome document 

Best Practices:

* organizing awards for, and documentation of, grassroots and local

women’s contributions to sustainable economies,

* attracting funding and support for women’s initiatives

From Africa Regional Preparatory Meeting for Rio +20 

Green energy policies must incorporate a gender perspective. ...most of the 2.5 billion people using traditional biomass for household energy live in Africa. African women play a major role in the collection and management of biomass fuel ...

 Gender-equitable energy policies, legislation and investments could effectively boost women’s opportunities for economic and social empowerment and their ability to contribute to the green economy.

We call upon Africa Governments to implement programmes that directly support women’s access to affordable off-grid energy technologies, as well as connections to grid.

From Women’s Input for Zero Draft of Outcome Document Promotion of clean renewable energy technologies and phasing out of unsustainable energy

....Investments in access to modern energy are needed for improved livelihoods, education, health services, water and sanitation, education, and transportation.

Women need increased access to cleaner, more efficient energy sources and technologies for household use and productive activities,

as well as training and education for business development - including designing, producing, marketing and managing new energy products and services....

2nd Rio+20 Intersessional (15 - 16 Dec 2011)

• Review of inputs from stakeholders

• Basis for zero-draft of outcome document

Rio+20 Process Timeline

2011

February 28 - 4 MarchCSD Intergovernmental

preparatory meeting

March 7 - 82nd Preparatory

Committee Meeting

October - DecemberRegional Preparatory

meetings

December 15 - 16Second Intersessional

Meeting

2012

January 16 - 18Meeting to discuss Zero

Draft Document to be convened, UN, New York

February 13 - 17First informal negotiating

week on Zero Draft, UN, New York

March 26 - 273rd Intersessional Meeting

June 13 - 15Final Preparatory

Committee Meeting

Official Preparatory Process

20 - 22 June 2012 RIO + 20 UN Conference on Sustainable

Development

Sources for Rio+20 Information and Participation

Official UN site for the 2012 UN Conference on Sustainable Development 

www.uncsd2012.org/rio20/

 

  Women's Major Group web page on official UN site

www.uncsd2012.org/rio20/index.php?menu=104 

 

Women on the Road to Rio+20 - WEDO interactive info & discussion site

http://women-rio20.ning.com/

CSD Women’s Major Group Email List

http://csd-women.groupsite.com/join

  Join Rio+20 Steering Committee ..........