Strengthening the Kenya Gender & Energy Network

In this project ENERGIA, Hivos and Practical Action Kenya partnered to strengthen the Kenya Gender and Energy Network (KGEN) via seed funding. The duration of this project was July 2010 and June 2011. The main activities carried out in this project were: establishment of the KGEN secretariat; gender awareness training for energy practitioners; identification of gender gaps in the Kenyan Rural Energy Act (REA); creation of a popular version of the gender audit of the Kenya energy policy.

Key objectives:

  •  To formalize the Kenya Gender and Energy Network (KGEN) and establish its secretariat and mentor its operations.
  • Facilitate increased availability and capacity of gender and energy experts.
  • Facilitate availability of appropriate gender technologies for access and utilization of energy through harnessing local innovations.
  • Reduce gender barriers to access to energy as a means to achieving sustainable energy development and exploitation.
  • Work with others to develop a nationally pro-poor and gender friendly acceptable program on sustainable energy development and exploitation
  • Generate, manage and share information on clean and sustainable gender based energy options.

Key results:

  • The Network (KGEN) established as a legal entity in Kenya
  • KGEN secretariat develops and obtains funding for at-least one proposal by the end of year one of its operations.
  • 25 network members and energy practitioners equipped with knowledge and skills in concepts in gender and energy planning
  • Gender needs identified in the key Ministries.
  • Local innovators strengthened, promoted and equipped with knowledge on patenting procedures

Lessons learned:

  • Most network members are individuals who have an interest or are working in the energy sector but also have an interest in gender issues. In some cases once individuals leave the organizations, the organizations do not continue to be network members.
  • To get network members to actively participate in the process requires more time than it would if one organization was to carry out the work. The Secretariat will continually have to allow some level of flexibility.

Final seed funding report - Download