By Esra NURJA and Evert WAETERLOOS, Enabel Mozambique

As part of Enabel’s support to the Mozambican Ministry of Mineral Resources and Energy (MIREME) and the Energy Regulatory Authority (ARENE), a study was commissioned to identify strategic entry points for gender mainstreaming in the promotion of sustainable access to energy for all in Mozambique. The study by GreenLight Africa was completed in March 2021, and identified many gaps in technical capacity and available resources within MIREME. The Gender Focal Points (GFP), for instance, do not feel equipped with the proper tools to undertake gender mainstreaming activities. Therefore, the study emphasizes the need to strengthen the capacities of the GFP of MIREME and ARENE at central and provincial level by elaborating a training-of-trainers’ manual on gender mainstreaming in the energy sector.

In response to GreenLight Africa’s study and MIREME’s request to improve the dissemination of information and training material within the Ministry, a training-of-trainers’ (ToT) manual on gender integration within the energy sector has been developed. The manual provides technical content on the relation between gender and energy, with a pedagogical support to guide trainers through the content. The aim of this manual is to adapt and apply the ToT approach, which has proven to be efficient in disseminating information and strengthening peer-to-peer learning, in the Mozambican context.

The manual resulted from the collaboration with two consultants: Gilda Monjane (entrepreneur and specialist in gender and renewable energy in Mozambique) and GreenLight Africa (research and development organization focusing on the energy and environment sectors). The GFP were involved throughout the entire process, from content identification to review of the manual. Visits to relevant districts were organized during the development of the manual to get familiar with the challenges that rural families face because of limited or no access to energy. The focus was on how the use of renewable energies can contribute to resolving these challenges, especially for women and girls, who are mainly affected by energy poverty, as they are in charge of household activities.

As part of the manual development, a five day-training was given by GreenLight Africa to introduce the manual to the GFP at central and provincial level, as well as experts in renewable energies from ARENE, FUNAE and EDM. As most of them received previous training on gender and/or energy, the initial goal of this training was to train the participants in becoming trainers through a ToT approach. However, difficulties in using this approach arose during the training, when gaps in the participants’ knowledge on the topics covered came out. There was, for instance, still a lot of confusion between the concepts of “gender” and “sex”.

For this reason, the training was readjusted to focus more on the content of the manual, in order to ensure a proper use of the manual by the GFP afterwards. The manual consists of 6 modules: orientations for the trainer; gender concepts; gender mainstreaming approaches in the energy sector; gender mainstreaming in key energy sector documents; renewable energies; and the role of GFP. Active learning techniques, referring to practical exercises, such as role playing, plenary discussions, group works, brainstorming sessions, etc.  were used throughout the whole training with the aim of familiarizing participants with this “teaching and learning” approach.

Now that the participants have a better understanding of the content, the next step will be to focus on the pedagogical aspects of the manual. This will require a further monitoring of how they use the manual in their own work environment, and how they continue to broaden and deepen their knowledge. The objective of this support is to equip and prepare the GFP to become trainers and advocates of gender mainstreaming in the energy sector of Mozambique, both in their professional and personal environment.

Picture: Regina Ernesto (GFP of Province Cabo Delgado) and Julio Balate (PFG of EDM). November 2021. Photo credits: Isabel Corthier