Zimbabwe capacity Building Workshop Report: Mainstreaming Gender in Energy Projects. 2009.

The national capacity building workshop for gender mainstreaming in energy projects in Zimbabwe was held over a five day in July 2010. The workshop was part of the ENERGIA Phase IV activities meant to build national capacity and practical experience. The workshop aimed to provide practitioners with skills and tools to mainstream gender into the various energy projects they are working on, following the realization that most practitioners lack appropriate skills and tools for gender mainstreaming in projects.

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Regional Micro Hydro Power Project ENERGIA Africa Gender Mainstreaming in Energy Projects 2008-2011

Practical Action Southern Africa submitted a Gender Action Plan for the Regional Micro Hydro Power Project. This is a 5-year project running from January 2008 to December 2012 that is being implemented by Practical Action Southern Africa with funding from the European Commission. The e-coaching specifically focuses on the Micro Hydro Power project in Chipendeke. The Chipendeke Micro Hydro of 24 kW expects to benefit 3000 men and women directly and indirectly by providing access to electricity in households, the clinic, school, service centre and through battery charging.

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Strengthening the activities of the Gender and Energy Network of Zimbabwe. 2010.

 The Gender and Energy Network of Zimbabwe (GENEZ) housed at Practical Action Southern Africa, implemented various projects since its formation in 2007.  Among these; developing and disseminating gender and energy information to various parts of Zimbabwe, training of energy technocrats in mainstreaming gender in energy projects and sensitising gender pressure groups on the importance of energy in development for both men and women with support from ENERGIA International.

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Network Goals

• Raise awareness  on sustainable energy options available.
• Facilitate research, document and disseminate energy and gender issues so as to develop a database.
• Mainstream gender into energy planning and development.
• Advocate and lobby for policy reforms on energy policies in line with gender issues.
• Planning and implementation of engendered sustainable energy projects including resource and identification and utilization.
• Coordination and liaison of members at national and international level.

Activities

• GENEZ actively sought and managed to secure high level ministerial support and endorsement of GENEZ and its activities.
• The network accepted a new logo.
• Through television and radio broadcasts of the network and its objectives in popular programs, has resulted in increased awareness of the GENEZ objectives, members and their activities on gender and energy. In addition, the development and dissemination of promotional material helped contribute to this increased awareness.
• Two newsletters were produced by GENEZ as a platform for sharing information, experiences and lessons learned on gender, energy and MDG issues in Zimbabwe, the region and internationally. The newsletters are available electronically here.
• Because of an awareness campaign, a group of disabled women in Masvingo shared a proposal to increase the capacity of their bread-making enterprise. The network wants to continue to collect information on other women's projects in other parts of the country.
• The network organised a training for 20 male and female energy implementers and managers in Masvingo in July 2009. The training built capacity on mainstreaming gender into the design and implementation of energy projects. The training has been followed up with monitoring and evaluation to assist those who have been trained and their respective organisations.