Press release | 01 Sep, 2010

Samoa seeks gender approach to strengthen national energy projects

Several government ministries in Samoa are engaged in a week long gender mainstreaming training this week in the attempt to strengthen their project implementation, particularly renewable energy and energy efficiency projects, and community level interaction.

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Photo: C.Yoshida/MNRE

Samoa like other Pacific Island Countries is moving fast towards renewable energy interventions and the Chief Executive Officer of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, Mr Taulealeausumai Laavasa Malua  says that it is imperative that Samoa is implementing these interventions on a “wholistic approach”.

Gender is an important part of any intervention and Samoa will seek to reflect this at the operational level”

“It is important for us to know how exactly our projects are affecting our communities. Being gender sensitized is the first step towards this process.”

The gender mainstreaming training has been convened for renewable energy project coordinators involved in the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s (IUCN) regional project – Managing the Ecosystems and Livelihood Implications of Energy Policies in the Pacific Island States. Other government ministries also present at this national training, conducted for the first time in Apia, are the Ministry of Finance; Ministry of Women, Community and Social Development, Land Transport Authority; Ministry of Education, Sports and Culture, and the Ministry of Health. Representatives from the private sector also present include the Electric Power Corporation and the Scientific Research Organization of Samoa.

Gender is a sensitive issue for Pacific Islanders often being perceived as favoring women’s rights over men’s. The Millennium Declaration recognizes the importance of gender equality and women’s empowerment as an effective pathway for combating poverty, hunger and disease and for stimulating truly sustainable development. According to workshop facilitator, Ms Ana Laqeretabua, gender presents a “deeper way of looking at any intervention”.

“Wearing a gender lens means that the different behavior and needs of women and men are considered, valued and favored equally. It does not mean that women and men have to become the same, but that their rights, responsibilities and opportunities will not depend on whether they are born male or female.”

In most cases across the Pacific, gender dimensions are being taken on board in national projects but are not being properly documented. IUCN and SPC are working together on this initiative and encouraging energy project implementers to incorporate gender dimensions into their projects to ensure project sustainability.

The training began on Monday 30th August and will end on Friday 3rd September. It is being conducted through the support of the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC), IUCN and the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment of Samoa.