Gender Transition to Energy for All: from Evidence to Inclusive Policies

Apr 30, 2019
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Following the adoption of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, policy- and decision makers, governments, multilateral organisations, private companies, and civil society organisations, at both international and national level, have been called to take action on ending poverty and other deprivations. The Agenda recognizes 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), focused on thematic issues, including water, energy, climate, oceans, urbanization, transport, science and technology. Since the beginning, ENERGIA has actively worked on SDG7 on energy access and SDG5 on gender equality, and their interconnection. Our experience suggests that energy access and gender equality are inextricably linked, and addressing them together can offer multiple development gains. Indeed, to enhance energy access and achieve related sustainable development goals, women are central players because of their role as household and natural resources managers, food producers, and educators. Hence, striving for gender equality and therefore for the application of a gender lens to energy programmes and policies, is the key to social and economic development.