South Asia, Women in Energy (SAWIE)

Second Application Workshop on Efficient Energy Management and Renewable Energy,

Date : From November 17-19,2008

Venue : Dhaka Sheraton Hotel, Dhaka, Bangladesh     

The First USAID/SARI/Energy Regional Application Workshop on South Asia Women in Energy was held at Trivandrum from 21st 25th April, 2008. The event was endorsed by all the participants and, as a result, the South Asia Women in Energy (SAWIE) Network on Women in Energy was formed. SAWIE involves 32 women professionals from 8 South Asian Countries (Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka) and the United States. Four working Sub-committees have also been formed to deal with various issues on efficient energy management and promotion of renewable energy with objective to mainstream women in the energy sector. This next SAWIE workshop, organized and co-sponsored by the Bangladesh Renewable Energy Association (BREA) and UNDP in Dhaka, is designed to carry forward the initiatives developed in the first workshop and the four working groups.

Overview :

1.    This workshop is a three day event that will address the following topics of interest ;

2.    Introductory sessions by regional specialists who will present current programs and initiatives in gender issues, mainstreaming, awareness and programs.

3.    Working group sessions on:                      

·         Gender streamlining and gender auditing

·         Renewable energy technology and green architecture

·         Micro finance and income generation

·         Capacity building, best practices, and information sharing

4.    Country presentations by SAWIE representatives on various initiatives in their respective countries.

5.    Field trip and case studies

6.    SAWIE next steps and future initiatives

Stakeholders :

·         Women representatives form NGOs/Women led NGOs or community organizations

·         Small scale women entrepreneurs

·         Government sector/panchayet leaders/policy makers

·         Active participants/leaders from first women in Energy workshop

·         Donor organizations

Activities :

The Bangladesh Renewable Energy Association (BREA) has developed a workshop curriculum, identified resource persons and organizations, and planned field trips and demonstrations for the participants. At the conclusion of the workshop the participants will have had good exposure to current women's issues in energy, and further advanced the goals and objectives of SAWIE.

Department of Environment