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Senter for utvikling og miljø – SUM

Lighting the Path Towards Gender Equality with the Barefoot Approach in Afghanistan. Senter for utvikling og miljø – SUM. 13.12.2011 Karina Standal karina.standal@sum.uio.no. A Project with a Difference : Rural Solar Electrification in Afghanistan.

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Senter for utvikling og miljø – SUM

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  1. Lighting the Path Towards Gender Equality with the Barefoot Approach in Afghanistan Senter for utvikling og miljø – SUM 13.12.2011 Karina Standal karina.standal@sum.uio.no

  2. A Project with a Difference: Rural Solar Electrification in Afghanistan

  3. A Project with a Difference: Rural Solar Electrification in Afghanistan • A NorwegianChurch Aid (NCA) project for community driven solar energysupply in rural Afghanistan • Earlyindicationsofwomen’sempowerment • Communitymembersaretrained as Barefoot Solar Engineers (BSE) withresponsibility for repairing solar equipment

  4. A Project with a Difference: Rural Solar Electrification in Afghanistan • Afghanwomenaretrainedwith a male mahram • The communitypledges to payBSEs a monthlysalary • Equipmentand trainingcostsarecovered by developmentassistance

  5. BSE workshop Habashi

  6. Afghanistan Badakshan Faryab Bamiyan Kabul Dai Kundi Uruzghan

  7. Methodology and Empirical data • A qualitative approach • Interviews with the women’s shura and men’s shura in 4 villages in Bamiyan • Interviews with BSEs from 3 provinces (Uruzghan excluded) • Interviews with key personnel at NCA

  8. Women’sshura in Pir Dad

  9. Men’sshura in Ladu

  10. Improvedincomeopportunities • Time for weaving • More savings • Less dependancyonloans from otherethnicgroups

  11. Improvedhealth for women and children • Less pollutionindoors • Better nutrition • Information from radio and TV, and women’seducation

  12. “When you are sitting for long years at home [Taliban era] and you could not see anybody. You do not have confidence in yourself and do not know how to talk to [other people], because you have not seen people. But when you go and receive training and know about this [solar energy technology] and other things you get your confidence. You know how to talk and how to solve problems” (Interview Soraya 17.07.07).

  13. Nightschool in Afghanvillage Nightschool in Afghanvillage

  14. Increased social well-being • Time together in the family, • New mobility • Educational opportunities

  15. “I used to think women should stay at home. Now I think that our community is clear in their mind that women can do everything. Women are more independent now... When we (him and his sister) went to India there were women from many countries there, Gambia, Sierra Leone, Cameroon… Then I thought girls can do anything and serve their country. For me this was a new thought. The girls were very young and good at learning…. When I saw the other girls in Tilonia I saw that women and men are equal in this and that women have capabilities” (Interview Shukrullah 15.07.07).

  16. Changedperspectives

  17. New perspectives on women’s abilities and knowledge • Communities experience women’s abilities • New ideas, values and experiences • Transformation of the discourse and negotiation over gender relations

  18. Womenobtainnewspace in politicalparticipation • Establishementofnew forums for participation. • BSEs and teachersarevaluableassets in community. • Formalisationofwomen’scontribution

  19. Challenges and lessons to be learned • The security and socio-economic situation in Afghanistan limits expansion and fulfillment of women’s empowerment • Coordination of interventions are necessary for mutual benefits and sustainability • (Lack of) payment entangles in already existing social conflicts

  20. Challenges and lessons to be learned • The poorest still disadvantaged • New appliances create new social divisions • Solar electricity has limitations compared to grid extension

  21. Challenges and lessons to be learned • Women’s new role adds to the burden of responsibilities • Women’s empowerment is illigitimate as personal fulfillement or individual rights • Women excluded from arenas of reconciliation, and decision-making power in local peace-building (UNSCR 1325)

  22. Challenges and lessons to be learned • The personal characteroftheBSEs is crucial to theproject’saddedvalue

  23. Revisitingtheissue: WhyGender in Energy Projects?

  24. The PotentialImpactofIntervention:New perspectives and newpriorities • The spacedefiningwomen’sappropriateknowledgechangesallowing alternative discourse • Women and girl’seducationregainsvalue

  25. The PotentialImpactofIntervention: New perspectives and newpriorities • Women have newresponsibilites in publiclife • Women’sknowledge, experience and prioritiesofenergysolutions is included to thebenefitoftheircommunity

  26. Thankyou!karina.standal@sum.uio.no

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