1.2 Organizing sessions on gender issues at meetings of IANAS Programs:

Energy and Water

Anneke Sengers on behalf of

•Patricia Taboada, Liaison to IANAS Energy

Program. Chemical engineer - energy

•Nicole Bernex, Liaison to IANAS Water

Program. Geologist, Peru Amazon basin

Energy for Energy for underserved underserved

Populations – Gender Populations – Gender ConsiderationsConsiderationsPatricia Taboada-Serrano

Liaison to the IANAS Energy ProgramIANAS Women for Science Working Group

Energy Project MeetingBogotá, ColombiaJune 9 – 11, 2011

Women – the largest subgroup Women – the largest subgroup within underserved populationswithin underserved populationsThe 1.2 billion of people living on and on under USD 1 per day (70% are women)

People living in rural areas and cities poverty belts, mostly women, because men have moved away to follow job opportunities

Differences in gender Differences in gender perception on energy perception on energy availabilityavailabilityRural community set to

choose access to one energy source

MEN: decision-making based on energy source – e.g., electricity for quality of life and education

WOMEN: decision-making based on energy use – e.g., gas for household (reduce workload & costs)

Women engineers – strategic Women engineers – strategic agents for developmentagents for developmentS&T transfer is an essential element in

all development workThe targeted populations are majority

women, who need to be engaged and empowered as partners

Female engineers will be effective agents of empowerment by, 1. educating girls and encouraging

them to become scientists and engineers

2. promoting the participation of female engineers in programmes, companies and research institutions

6th Meeting of the National Focal Points of the IANAS Water Programme

November 22-23, 2011

Lago Titicaca, BoliviaSession on Gender Issues in Management

of Water Resources

Report by Nicole Bernex, WfS-WG Liaison

WfS-WG invited and sponsored three speakers:•Nicole Bernex, Geologist, Amazon Basin•Mariela García Vargas (Instituto Cinara, Universidad del Valle, Colombia). Community Management of Rural Water Supply in the Andes •Maria Angélica Allegría, Chief Engineer, Water Resources, Ministry of Public Infrastructure, Chile. Role of Gender in water management

Bernex report is in Conference materials

Vargas: In engineering faculties where teaching has a technical bias, it is essential to emphasize social and environmental dimensions using a gender approach, in order to contribute to Sustainable Human Development.Allegria: Academies and universities must insist that women be included as partners in sustainable water management projects.Bernex: Women must be recognized as a central element in the supply, the management and the protection of water. Gender and ecosystem approaches must be combined.

The pivotal role of women as providers and users of water/energy and guardians of the living environment must be recognized in development and management of water/energy resources. Policies are needed to address women’s specific needs and to equip and empower women to participate at all levels in water/energy resources programmes, including decision-making and implementation, in ways defined by them.

Paraphrasing Bernex 2011

Effect on IANAS Energy and Water Programs

Energy- Hour-long (unscheduled) discussion- New action group formed re cultural aspects of development projects

Water- Speakers actively participated in meeting- Speakers invited to contribute to publications in preparation