Project name: Enabling Poor Women’s Benefits from Enhanced Access to Energy in Hatiya Island
Strategic Agendas : Environmentally sustainable growth, Inclusive economic growth
Drivers of Change: Effective gender equity and mainstreaming, Knowledge solutions
Sector / Subsector: Electricity transmission and distribution – Energy efficiency and conservation – Energy sector development and institutional reform – Energy utility services – Renewable energy generation – solar
Impact: Increased employment and livelihood opportunities in Hatiya Island for women living below the poverty line (BPL) and vulnerable women
Source of Funding: ADB
Power Engineering Design performed consultancy services and assisted in developing a strategy to further expand the integration of gender related activities into the ongoing loan 2769 for greater gender equality results, by spearheading the use of new off-grid renewable energy options to maximize the hybrid power system in Hatiya Island. The scope of the Technical Assistance (TA) includes increasing women’s participation in energy related employment and energy based livelihood opportunities resulting from the loan; provision of technical training for women to enable them to maximize them; and a gender sensitive user-education program module to improve household energy efficiency, targeting female headed poor households (FHH) on the safe and efficient use of electricity, elaboration of a customized dissemination and user friendly educational campaign in the efficient management of electricity services provided by the new hybrid power technologies
The outcome will be efficient electricity services maximizing inclusive access to energy resources and service, through:
- Improved local power infrastructure maximizing benefits for BPL women and FHH, which includes community based solar irrigation pumping systems for effective agriculture; PV street lighting in select areas; nano-grid cluster grid for connecting HH located far away from the main grid; community based PV refrigerators for preserving fish catch; internet access provided through one community e-center for increased information dissemination and learning;
- Increased women’s participation as entrepreneurs and service providers, which includes skills and technical training to enhance women’s energy-based alternative livelihood opportunities through local power infrastructure development; implementation of electrical connections and electricity billing within the Output Based Aid program (the grant financed electrical connection from HH to the distribution grid);
- Gender sensitive user-education program developed and implemented, which includes preparing awareness raising materials and implement user education program on safe and efficient use of electricity targeting poor FHH.
Description of Project Outputs:
- Local power infrastructure improved to maximize benefits for BPL women and female headed households.
- Women“s participation as entrepreneurs and service providers increased
- Gender-sensitive user education program developed and implemented