The main problem addressed within this project is energy poverty and especially in relation to youth and women in the context of energy system governance. The project will seek to address problems relating to the role of youth, women and employable skills dimensions in energy access by focusing on know-how and information, increase youth and women’s capacity to engage in energy management and addressing policy and regulatory issues that affect energy equity. The overall objective of this project is to improve the livelihood of over 30 villages in Iganga, District. The main objective of the project is to increase access to sustainable energy for youth and women. The main beneficiaries of the project will be youth and women.
To achieve these objectives, the project will
a) Set up an information and Vocational Skills training centre on Renewable and sustainable energy
b) As a pilot project to educate and train 50 youth and women from 3 villages on Biogas, Solar Energy (PV and Water Heating technology) and Entrepreneurship who will then also act as peer trainers
c) Facilitate the setting up of energy businesses by the 50 trainees
d) Facilitate the participation of the trainees in at least 1 advocacy campaign on youth and women representation in energy management systems and energy policies that reduce access of energy to marginalized communities
e) Organise 1 seminar on sustainable and renewable energy, youth and gender constraints causing energy poverty
The project will be implemented by INUG (http://www.inug.se/) in conjunction with local partners, eseeker Uganda (www.eseekerug.com) and Busoga University (http://busogauniversity.ac.ug/). By addressing youth and gender and focusing on educating on energy; introducing renewable energy as an alternative source of energy and setting up businesses on the same, the project puts into consideration the cross-cutting themes on youth and gender, reducing inequalities and climate change mitigation.
The project will last 15 months 2012- 2014. It will not seek to create new structures but to build the capacity of already existing ones by bringing in a youth and gender dimension on energy access programmes. Policies and regulations surrounding energy access fail to underline youth and women as a very important part of energy access programmes, or their role in decision making and energy management, in spite of the fact that it is well-known youth and women play a critical role in energy management based on their role in society and households.