By Awa Macalo
The Ministry of Petroleum and Energy (MoPE) is undertaking a five-day training of gender focal units and key stakeholders for the implementation of the National Action Plan on the Ecowas policy on mainstreaming gender in energy access.
The Ecowas agency, Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (ECREEE), developed the regional policy on mainstreaming gender in energy access in 2015 to address gender barriers and promote equal participation of men and women in the expansion of energy access in the region.
The policy will increase access to modern, affordable, reliable energy services, energy security, and environmental sustainability by tailoring national and regional policies, projects and programmes to the energy needs of men and women.
The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Petroleum and Energy, Lamin Camara, explained sustainable energy as a vital socio-economic tool for effective development, and a major determinant of the development of any country.
“In recognising the importance of energy and gender to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which aims to end poverty and promote well-being while protecting ecological systems by 2030, the government has been supporting energy initiatives to increase access to energy and at the same time promote gender equality in the energy sector,” PS Camara said.
The training was designed to address local challenges caused by gender indifference in the energy sector.
Mr Camara urged the participants to use the knowledge gained from the training and fill in the gender gaps in their respective institutions.
The Director of MoPE, Kemo Ceesay, acknowledged partners for collaborating with the petroleum ministry to equip participants on the values of gender mainstreaming in energy sectors.
