Strengthening Gender and Energy Networking in Ghana

ENERGIA supported GRATIS of Ghana with the strengthening of the Gender and Energy Network in Ghana. The duration of this seed funding project was January 2010 until January 2011. The main activities carried out under this project were: an awareness creation workshop for management and staff of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR); an annual networking meetingg; and stove dissemination for female entrepreneurs.  

Key objectives:

  • Capacity building
  • Networking 

Key results:

  • The network held its annual meeting with stakeholders from government, civil society and private enterprise participating. A joint set of actions was agreed upon
  • Improved cook stove pilot project reached 6 female entrepreneurs eventual target is to reach 1000 of the ICS in Ghana
  • 50 new member registered in gender and energy network
  • Awareness creation through media coverage to the activities of the network

Lessons learned:

  • Interest in mainstreaming gender is growing to the extent that two scientists from the CSIR have approached the network on the possibility of the network providing avenues for PhD level research. Thus the ENERGIA secretariat and the Africa Regional Secretariat should consider looking into the possibility of providing topics.
  • Through the involvement of female professionals in the Network activities the network has become richer in knowledge.
  • Given the right encouragement the Network youth members who have graduated from the universities could contribute to knowledge sharing in network activities as well as act ambassadors for the network.
  • Many professionals working in the field of science and technology have limited knowledge in gender and energy but are very enthusiastic about becoming involved.
  • The Gender and Energy Network, Ghana is independent and could collaborate with departments and agencies to run network activities as a registered NGO.
  • The involvement of the Nigeria network in our annual general meeting was most welcome

GRATIS Seedfunding Report FINAL - Download