ENERGIA News vol. 7 nr 1 • 2004
1
ENERGIA News
Mitali Sen and Douglas Barnes
In most of the developing world, electricity
constitutes a small fraction of the total
energy consumed. However, when available,
electricity has the potential to improve
people’ s lives dramatically. At a very
minimum, it provides good quality lighting
that enables people to take care of chores or
reading and studying in the evening. When
exploited to its full potential, it can increase
agricultural and industrial productivity,
improve the delivery of health care to
millions, relieve many drudge-laden chores
such as processing food grains, washing and
cleaning, widen horizons through access to
the radio and television, provide lighting for
adult education and literacy classes as well
as assist in income-generating activities.
Electrification is thus welcomed by almost
everybody as a harbinger of a better life, and
access to it has long been used as an
indicator of development. However, this
gender-neutral perspective on the dynamics
of electrification as a good indicator of
development is increasingly difficult to
sustain. This issue of ENERGIA News
presents articles that explore how gender
and electrification are inextricably linked,
and why the debate on gender
mainstreaming urgently needs to be
sharpened and strengthened, and interact
with programmes not closely linked to
gender issues.
GENDER AND
SUSTAINABLE ENERGY
VOLUME 7 ➤ ISSUE 1 ➤ DECEMBER 2004
Gender and Rural
Electrification
Viewing Electrification
through a Gendered
Lens
Editorial
1
News from the
Secretariat
4
International Programmes
ESMAP
8
Internet Resources
9
Networking around the
world
10
Meeting ENERGIA Members
Loyda Alonso
12
The Impact of Electrification
on Women’s Lives in Rural
India
13
Mitali Sen and Douglas Barnes
Electrification through Microhydro Plants in Rural Nepal
Ishara Mahat
15
Ensuring Women’s Role in
Rural Electrification
Programmes in Bangladesh
Sadeka Halim
17
Gender Mainstreaming in
the Bangladesh Rural
Electrification Board
18
Joy Clancy, Lailun Nahar
Ekram, Sadeka Halim,
Nasmunnessa Mahtab
Monitoring Tools for Rural
Electrification
21
May Sengendo
Bulletin Board
23
Next issue
24
Household electricity gives more opportunity for women to be involved in evening activities (Photo: ESMAP archive)
N E W S L E T T E R O F T H E N E T W O R K F O R G E N D E R A N D S U S TA I N A B L E E N E R G Y
Viewing Electrification through
a Gendered Lens
Gender and Rural
Electrification
1
ENERGIA News
Mitali Sen and Douglas Barnes
In most of the developing world, electricity
constitutes a small fraction of the total
energy consumed. However, when available,
electricity has the potential to improve
people’ s lives dramatically. At a very
minimum, it provides good quality lighting
that enables people to take care of chores or
reading and studying in the evening. When
exploited to its full potential, it can increase
agricultural and industrial productivity,
improve the delivery of health care to
millions, relieve many drudge-laden chores
such as processing food grains, washing and
cleaning, widen horizons through access to
the radio and television, provide lighting for
adult education and literacy classes as well
as assist in income-generating activities.
Electrification is thus welcomed by almost
everybody as a harbinger of a better life, and
access to it has long been used as an
indicator of development. However, this
gender-neutral perspective on the dynamics
of electrification as a good indicator of
development is increasingly difficult to
sustain. This issue of ENERGIA News
presents articles that explore how gender
and electrification are inextricably linked,
and why the debate on gender
mainstreaming urgently needs to be
sharpened and strengthened, and interact
with programmes not closely linked to
gender issues.
GENDER AND
SUSTAINABLE ENERGY
VOLUME 7 ➤ ISSUE 1 ➤ DECEMBER 2004
Gender and Rural
Electrification
Viewing Electrification
through a Gendered
Lens
Editorial
1
News from the
Secretariat
4
International Programmes
ESMAP
8
Internet Resources
9
Networking around the
world
10
Meeting ENERGIA Members
Loyda Alonso
12
The Impact of Electrification
on Women’s Lives in Rural
India
13
Mitali Sen and Douglas Barnes
Electrification through Microhydro Plants in Rural Nepal
Ishara Mahat
15
Ensuring Women’s Role in
Rural Electrification
Programmes in Bangladesh
Sadeka Halim
17
Gender Mainstreaming in
the Bangladesh Rural
Electrification Board
18
Joy Clancy, Lailun Nahar
Ekram, Sadeka Halim,
Nasmunnessa Mahtab
Monitoring Tools for Rural
Electrification
21
May Sengendo
Bulletin Board
23
Next issue
24
Household electricity gives more opportunity for women to be involved in evening activities (Photo: ESMAP archive)
N E W S L E T T E R O F T H E N E T W O R K F O R G E N D E R A N D S U S TA I N A B L E E N E R G Y
Viewing Electrification through
a Gendered Lens
Gender and Rural
Electrification