Gender Audit of the Draft Energy Policy of the Kingdom of Lesotho

The Gender Audit of the Draft Energy Policy of the Kingdom of Lesotho is a pro­duct of the gender mainstreaming workshop held in 2008. The Audit was reques­ted by the Ministry of Natural Resources and it is funded by ENERGIA International while GENOL through Khalema Redeby Consultancy Services (KRCS) was commis­sioned to undertake the Audit.

More info..

Gender And Energy Network Of Lesotho Training Workshop

This report provides a detailed report and assessment of a workshop that was held under the auspices of the Gender and Energy Network of Lesotho (GENOL), which is an affiliate of ENERGIA, the International Network on Gender and Sustainable Energy, from the 24th to 28th November 2008, in Maseru.  The key deliverables of the workshop were to strengthen and enhance further, building on previous initiatives, the capabilities of GENOL members and other stakeholders in mainstreaming gender in energy projects.

More info..

Lesotho Seed Funding 2009

In 2009 ENERGIA assisted the Gender and Energy Network of Lesotho (GENOL) through a seed funding project. The main activities that took place under the seed funding project training for the construction of ceramic stoves; tree planting; gender sensitization workshop for government officials; and advocacy foe GENOL.  In addition during the duration of the seed funding project GENOL, after long years of activity, was officially launched as an NGO.

More info..

Network Goals

Since its inception in 2001 specific goals of GENOL have been to facilitate and promote information exchange, empower women and men by making them aware of different sources of energy and its technologies. GENOL provides a forum for women and men to discuss and exchange information on energy and gender. GENOL works closely with the Department of Energy and the Ministry of Gender, Youth, Sports and Recreation to encourage education and activities that promote gender and energy and moreover facilitates collaboration and co-operation with relevant Ministries and Departments on energy and gender matters. GENOL also liaises with other national, regional and international networks to draw on support and experience these networks possess.

Activities

• The DUNG Project designed by GENOL member from the Child and Gender Protection Unit within the Lesotho Mounted Police Services, is an on-going project which commenced on the 6th October, 2008. This project has been reviewed to incorporate gender concerns. It has provided employment opportunities to the people living in the project area of Katlehong Community Council, which is constituted by eight communities. The dung workers are employed on a rotational basis to give equal employment opportunities to community members. The project has to date employed 49 people of whom 36 are women and 13 are men, from different localities. The project has disbursed M13,090.00 in wages to date.
• As a result of the efforts of the network new energy projects have been initiated and will be implemented in the rural areas of Lesotho where serious energy deficit exist. The two main Projects are the Hloahloeng Health Centre Biogas Project in the Mohale’s Hoek district to ensure efficient health service delivery to the community. The project is in its design stage and it is hoped will be operational in the second quarter of 2010. The project has been initiated by a GENOL member and is to be spearheaded by the Ministry of Public Works and Transport.
• An additional project initiated by a GENOL member from the Ministry of Local Government on Women’s Participation in Community Forest Management is to be undertaken by said ministry. It will ensure women’s access to firewood for their practical needs as well as to provide them with productive opportunities. It is to be piloted in the vicinity of the DUND project site. This idea is further supported by the Ministry of Forestry and Land Reclamation.
• The other project, authored by a GENOL member from the Lesotho Meteorological Services (LMS), to be explored is the Biogas for Cleaner City (Maseru). A follow up meeting is yet to be scheduled to introduce the concept to the ministers responsible for further action.
• A GENOL brochure was developed. The purpose of the brochure is to be the key communication channel for disseminating information on the activities and results of GENOL and the ENERGIA International Network to other stakeholders in Lesotho.